“This is great news,” Jones said.  “In times of natural disasters, our rural fire departments provide the first line of defense to our local communities and neighborhoods.  But when Hurricane Floyd hit Eastern North Carolina last year, our volunteer firefighters were not trained or equipped to perform floodwater rescues.  We cannot afford to face another hurricane season when one of our greatest emergency resources lacks the necessary means to help its communities in need.”

The draft Emergency Supplemental Budget includes the following additional Hurricane Floyd assistance:
 

• $500,000 for the Volunteer Firefighters Assistance program to aid volunteer fire departments in counties declared presidential disaster areas as a result of Hurricane Floyd.

• $81 million in market assistance payments to aid Eastern North Carolina tobacco, peanut, and cotton farmers.

• Authorizes USDA to use Emergency Conservation Program funds to assist producers to restore farming operations

• $27,925,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers for emergency dredging and debris removal ($8 million more than President Clinton’s request).

• $6 million for commercial fishermen and $2 million for Beaufort Lab.

• $33 million for Small Business Administration housing loans. ($2 million more than President Clinton’s request)

• $8 million for Rural Housing Assistance grants (not included in President Clinton’s request).