For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 6, 2003
Statement on Federal Assistance for Arkansas
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the
State of Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and
local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe ice storm on
December 3-4, 2002.
Federal funding is available to the State and eligible local
governments in the counties of Baxter, Clay, Cleburne,
Craighead, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence,
Newton, Poinsett, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren and White
on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public
facilities damaged by the severe ice storm. Federal funding is also
available on a cost share basis for hazard mitigation measures.
Joe M. Allbaugh, Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), named Alexander S. Wells 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
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