View Header

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release January 18, 2001
                  PRESIDENT DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER
                     EXISTS IN THE STATE OF VERMONT

     President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the

State of Vermont and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding on December 16-18, 2000.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected local governments in a two-county area. The counties include Bennington and Rutland.

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 storms and flooding. 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.

30-30-30