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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release December 6, 2000

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

     President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the

State of Montana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe winter storms beginning on October 31, 2000, and continuing through November 20, 2000.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected local governments in a six county area. The counties include Carter, Fallon, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Wibaux.

Federal funding is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by the severe winter storms. 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 Steven R. Emory 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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