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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release October 15, 1999

PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES AN EMERGENCY EXISTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Hurricane Irene on October 14, 1999, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Direct Federal assistance will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

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