THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary

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For Immediate Release
September 14, 2000


    PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER EXISTS IN THE STATE OF
                                CALIFORNIA

     The  President  today declared a major disaster exists in the State of
California  and  ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by an earthquake on September 3, 2000.

     The  President's  action  makes  Federal funding available to affected
individuals  in  Napa  County.   Assistance  can  include disaster 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.  Federal funding is also available on a cost share basis
for hazard mitigation measures.

     James  L.  Witt,  Director  of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA),  named  Mark  Ghilarducci  as  the Federal Coordinating Officer for
Federal  recovery  operations  in the affected area.   The Agency said that
damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional assistance and
counties may be added after the assessments are completed.

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