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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release January 8, 2001
           PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER EXISTS
                         IN THE STATE OF TEXAS

     President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the

State of Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter ice storm beginning on December 12, 2000, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to individuals and local governments in a three county area. The counties include Bowie, Cass and Red River.

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.

Assistance is also available for debris removal (Category A) and emergency protective measures (Category B) at 75 percent Federal funding. 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 A.D. Rodham 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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