HHS RELEASES $41.75 MILLION IN EMERGENCY ENERGY ASSISTANCE

President Clinton today directed HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala to release $41.75 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) emergency funds for eight states in the south who are suffering from extremely hot weather and Alaska for the disastrously low salmon run.

The nine states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

"This devastating heat has taken a tragic toll in the deaths of 24 people. Senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities are at risk in this extreme hot weather," said Secretary Shalala. "We are rushing this critical aid to provide relief and support for these vulnerable households."

Shalala added, "Without fuel oil for the severe Alaskan winter, many lives will be in danger. Vulnerable and frail children and senior citizens are most at risk from extreme cold. These crucial funds will supply essential heating oil now before the waterways freeze and the cost of flying in provisions becomes prohibitive."

States can use the funds to pay cooling bills, buy air conditioners, or provide other means of assistance to help low-income families and individuals.  Of the $41.75 million, $35 million is allocated to the eight states most affected by the extreme heat, based on the severity of the heat wave and the number of low-income households in the state, as well as consideration of other resources available to assist in dealing with the situation. Of the $35 million, $36,307 will go directly to four tribes in two states.

That state of Alaska will receive $6.75 million which will be shared with several Alaskan Native organizations to help about 4,000 to 5,000 households to buy heating oil for the coming winter. Alaskan native villages are largely dependent on salmon fishing for their livelihood. This is the fourth year in a row of a poor salmon run meaning there is virtually no cash to buy heating oil for the coming winter. Also, with a limited road system serving many of the villages, transportation of bulk fuels and other commodities is dependent upon the system of rivers and other waterways. Once the waterways freeze, emergency oil supplies would have to be flown in, at many times the current cost.

LIHEAP supports approximately 4 to 5 million households annually. Nearly half are families with children under 18, with senior citizens, person with disabilities and working poor individuals as the remaining beneficiaries.  Seventy percent of the households had incomes below $8,000 per year. LIHEAP emergency funds go to aid families in times of extreme heat or cold, other natural disasters, or to offset abnormally high fuel prices.

The following is the amount of funds for each state:

Alabama $5,852,502
Alaska $6,750,000
Arkansas $994,885
Georgia $4,679,843
Louisiana $4,215,913
Mississippi $2,812,167
South Carolina $1,250,024
Tennessee $826,224
Texas $14,368,442