===========================================================================
Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for California
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 18, 2008

Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for California

ÿÿWhite House News


The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of
California and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response
efforts in the area struck by wildfires beginning on November 13, 2008, and
continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Santa Barbara Counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs,
low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to
help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the
disaster.

Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments
and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for
debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal
assistance, for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Santa Barbara Counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures statewide.

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

FEMA said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional
counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully
completed.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the
designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by
registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling
1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech
impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6
p.m. (local time)

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

# # #
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/11/20081118-9.html