Statement by the Press Secretary

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe ice storm, on December 4-6, 2002.

Federal funding is available to the State and eligible local governments in the counties of Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Burke, Cabarrus, Catawba, Chatham, Cleveland, Davidson, Durham, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Lee, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Union, Vance, and Wake on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by the severe ice storm.

Federal funding is also available on a cost share basis for hazard mitigation measures for the counties of Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Chatham, Cleveland, Davidson, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Lee, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Union, Vance, and Wake.

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

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