For Immediate Release
OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY
September 1, 2004

Statement by the Press Secretary

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Indiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding on July 3-18, 2004.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in the counties of Clark, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Martin, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Putnam, Scott, Spencer, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Warren.

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 Thomas J. Costello 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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