Wilkes-barre

Area Red Cross Raising $25,000 In Quake Aid 
The Wyoming Valley Chapter Of The American Red Cross Is Accepting Donations To 
Help Victims Of The Recent California Earthquake.

Thursday, January 27, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1 &amp; 13A QUICK WORDS: CASEY TELLS
CLINTON HE MIGHT SEEK FEDERAL AID 





HARRISBURG (PRNewswire) -- Gov. Robert P. Casey has raised with President
Clinton the possibility that the state will ask for federal aid to help
homeowners, businesses and local governments recover from three weeks of
severe winter weather problems. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In a letter to the president, the governor cited recent "extreme cold, snow
storms, ice storms and earthquakes" and said state and affected local
governments could not respond effectively. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "These extreme conditions have created continued utility lifeline
problems," Casey wrote. "Supplemental federal assistance is necessary to save
lives and protect property, public health and safety, to lessen or avert the
threat of further disasters, and to restore normalcy throughout the
Commonwealth." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joseph L. LaFleur, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
(PEMA), said eligibility for federal assistance will depend on the state's
ability to support its case with assessments of damage and loss due to the
winter emergency. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If federal help is requested and approved, the form it takes will depend
on the damage reports developed and submitted by municipal and county
officials," LaFleur said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The aid may include money for emergency snow plowing necessary to open
roads for police, fire and emergency medical response. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 LaFleur said while electricity-conservation measures have been cut from the
emergency proclamation, the state is still in an emergency-response mode. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "PEMA was notified last night that a snow-bound, elderly family in
Jefferson County had been inaccessible for four days due to snow drifts over
15 feet deep, and they were running low on essential supplies," LaFleur said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The family was rescued Saturday morning by the National Guard, and
arrangements were made to get them fuel and medicine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This is just one example of the ongoing public-health and safety actions
under way statewide by state, county and municipal emergency-service personnel
working as a coordinated team to dig out from under this record-breaking
winter weather." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Through PEMA, the National Guard has been transporting fuel oil to electric
utilities in the southeast since Wednesday night. By Saturday afternoon, the
National Guard had delivered more than 500,000 gallons to generating stations
in the Philadelphia area, and this support will continue throughout the
weekend. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PEMA is working around the clock with Coast Guard ice breakers to open the
frozen Delaware River and coordinate fuel-oil deliveries to critically low
generating stations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 LaFleur said state and county emergency-management staffs are assessing
weather-related damage and will pass on the information to the federal
government as time and operational requirements permit. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In his letter to the president, the governor said more than a dozen state
agencies have been working with county and municipal officials and personnel
since early January to alleviate this emergency.

Casey Tells Clinton He Might Seek Federal Aid Governor's Letter To The President Describes State's Snow Emergency