Federal Disaster Aid Ordered For South Carolina Winter Storms
Release Date: January 31, 2000
Release Number: 1313-01
» More Information on South Carolina Winter Storms
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal disaster funds have been made available for South Carolina to supplement state and local response efforts to a series of severe winter storms that began hitting the state on January 22.
FEMA Director James Lee Witt said President Clinton authorized the assistance under a major disaster declaration issued this afternoon following a review of the agency's analysis of the state's request for federal aid.
Under the declaration, Witt said the state and local governments in 27 counties are eligible to apply for federal funding to pay 75 percent of the approved cost for debris removal and emergency services related to the storms.
The counties designated for the assistance include Abbeville, Berkley, Calhoun, Charleston, Collenton, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Marion, Marlboro, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union and York.
Witt said the declaration also makes cost-shared funding available to the state for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. He indicated that more counties and additional forms of federal assistance may be designated later after further evaluation of the effects of the storms.
James L. Roche of FEMA was named by Witt to coordinate the federal relief effort. Roche said that procedures for requesting assistance will be explained at a series of applicant briefings at locations to be announced shortly in the affected areas.
Last Modified: Friday, 14-Nov-2003 12:12:01