President Authorizes Emergency Funds For New Jersey Virus Threat
Release Date: November 1, 2000
Release Number: 3156-01
» More Information on New Jersey Virus Threat
Washington, DC -- The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that President Clinton has authorized federal emergency funds for New Jersey to reimburse local governments for part of the cost involved in combating the mosquito-borne West Nile virus outbreak this summer.
FEMA Director James Lee Witt said the President took the action requested by the state after determining that the authorized resources available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies were insufficient for local response activities and additional assistance from FEMA was required and warranted.
Witt said the President's emergency declaration provides up to $5 million in federal funds to reimburse affected local governments at 75 percent federal share for the cost of emergency measures that were taken to save lives and insure public health and safety beginning August 5 this year. All of the state's 21 counties are eligible for the emergency funding under the declaration.
Michael Byrne, of FEMA's regional office in New York City, was named by Witt to coordinate the federal assistance in the affected areas.
Last Modified: Monday, 03-Nov-2003 16:24:49