Statement by the Press Secretary on Federal Disaster Assistance for North Carolina from Hurricane Ophelia

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Hurricane Ophelia on September 11-17, 2005.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Ophelia in the counties of Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, and Pender.

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

Representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), R. David Paulison, Acting Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named Michael Karl as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

The Agency said additional designations and assistance may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

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