For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 1, 2004

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 severe storms and flooding on May 30, 2004, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in the counties of Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, and Sevier on a cost share basis for the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding. In addition, Direct Federal Assistance under the Public Assistance program is available at 75 percent Federal funding.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-share basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named Carlos Mitchell as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

The Agency said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

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

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