Bush declares Fernley major disaster area

]The FEMA today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the state of Nevada to help people and communities recover from the effects of severe winter storms and flooding.

FEMA Administrator David Paulison said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Bush. Paulison said that the President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Lyon County.

The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organization on a cost-sharing basis for Lyon County. In addition, federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

Paulison named Michael L. Karl as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Karl said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments

The agency said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday until further notice.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.