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Statement by the Press Secretary

December 11, 2002

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Super Typhoon Pongsona on December 8, 2002, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to the Commonwealth and the affected local government on the Island of Rota on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures under Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance, at 75 percent Federal funding. 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 David Fukutomi as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing and additional assistance and other areas may be designated after the assessments are completed.

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

George W. Bush, Statement by the Press Secretary Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/279479

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