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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                           (Miami, Florida)

For Immediate Release October 3, 2000

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

     The  President  today declared a major disaster exists in the

State of Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Tropical Storm Helene beginning on September 21, 2000, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected local governments in a nine-county area. The counties include Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Okaloosa, and Wakulla. Federal funding is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Helene. 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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