Statement by the Press Secretary

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State
of Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local
recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and
flooding beginning on March 18, 2008, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local
governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a
cost-sharing basis in the counties of Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll,
Clay, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Greene,
Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence,
Logan, Madison, Marion, Nevada, Newton, Pope, Randolph, Scott, Searcy,
Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff, and Yell for
emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance.

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

FEMA said that damage surveys have been scheduled and more
counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after
the assessments are completed.

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

White House Press Office
1-202-456-2580

Copyright Business Wire 2008