For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 18, 2005

Statement on Federal Assistance for Arizona

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Arizona and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding on December 28, 2004, through January 12, 2005.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai; the Hopi Tribal Nation, and the portion of the Navajo Tribal Nation within the State of Arizona.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures in the counties of Apache, Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai; the Hopi Tribal Nation, and the portion of the Navajo Tribal Nation within the State of Arizona.

Representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named Sandy Coachman 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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