Storm-battered part of Arizona declared disaster area

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Clinton declared four counties in Arizona as disaster areas because of the severe storms that began earlier this month and continue, according to the White House.

The action makes federal funding available for individual storm victims in La Paz and Maricopa counties and to local governments in Cochise, La Paz and Santa Cruz counties.

The assistance can be used for disaster housing, grants, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other individual and business-oriented recovery programs.

The local government funding is on a cost-sharing basis for the repair and replacement of public facilities damaged or destroyed by the severe storms and flooding. Funding is also available on the same basis for hazard mitigation measures for future storms.

Damage surveys were still under way and additional areas may be added, the statement said.

The severe storms began October 21

Several hundred people were evacuated from their homes in western Arizona on Friday as floodwaters threatened to storm through a small community for the second time in a week, authorities said.

Residents in low-lying areas of Wenden, Arizona, at town in the country of La Paz, about 90 miles (144 kms) west of Phoenix, left their homes again at daybreak amid a steady rain that threatened to fill a local river bed to the brink and beyond.

The residents were sent to a shelter set up by the American Red Cross at a high school gymnasium in Salome, just outside of Wenden.

On Sunday, the rain-swollen Centennial Wash overflowed its banks and slammed into the town, damaging homes, businesses, cars, trucks, bridges and roads.

Damage has been estimated at nearly $8 million. About 50 structures have been destroyed and another 150 severely damaged so far.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.