THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 26, 1994 PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER IN ILLINOIS President Clinton today declared a major disaster in the state of Illinois and ordered federal funds be released to help individuals and families in that state recover from severe storms, heavy rain and flooding which began on April 9, 1994. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals and families in eight counties: Cass, Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Iroquois, Menard, Sangamon and Vermilion. Assistance can include housing grants, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. James L. Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, named Ron Sherman of FEMA's regional office in Chicago, Illinois to coordinate federal recovery operations in the affected area. FEMA will continue to conduct damage surveys in other areas of the state, and additional counties may be approved for funds after the assessments are complete. -30-30-30-