THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary (Aboard Air Force One) ________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release January 28, 2000 PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER EXISTS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State
of Georgia and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm beginning on January 22, 2000, and continuing.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to local governments in a 30 county area. The counties include Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dawson, DeKalb, Elbert, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Union, Walker, White, and Wilkes.
Federal funding is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures. Federal funding is also available on a cost share basis for hazard mitigation measures.
The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional assistance and counties may be added after the assessments are completed.
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