For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 16, 2001

Statement by the Press Secretary

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on July 27, 2001, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to eligible local governments in the counties of Cocke, Greene, Johnson, and Washington. Assistance is available 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.

Joe M. Allbaugh, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named Gracia B. Szczech 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 counties and assistance may be added after the assessments are completed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  FEMA (202) 646-4600. ###