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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 17, 2000

PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER EXISTS IN THE STATE OF

ALABAMA

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding on March 10-11, 2000.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Jefferson and Tuscaloosa Counties.

Assistance can include disaster housing, grants, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding is also available on a cost share basis for hazard mitigation measures.

James L. Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named Charles M. Butler as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

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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