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 Home > News & Policies > August 2007

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 21, 2007

Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Minnesota

The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Minnesota and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area impacted by the bridge collapse in Minneapolis on August 1, 2007.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety in Hennepin County.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Carlos Mitchell as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

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

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