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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release August 21, 2000

         PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER EXISTS 
                         IN THE STATE OF OHIO

     The  President  today declared a major disaster exists in the State

of Ohio and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding on July 29, 2000 through August 2, 2000.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Lucas County.

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 Louis H. Botta 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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