The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Federated States of Micronesia and ordered Federal aid to supplement national and state recovery efforts in the area struck by Typhoon Pongsona on December 5-7, 2002.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to municipal governments in Chuuk State on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance under Public Assistance, at 75 percent Federal funding.
Joe M. Allbaugh, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named David Fukutomi as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing and additional assistance and jurisdictions may be added after the assessments are completed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
George W. Bush, Statement by the Press Secretary on Federal Assistance for Micronesia Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/280351