COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - President Barack Obama has granted Gov. Nikki Haley’s request to declare South Carolina a federal disaster area.
The emergency declaration Tuesday authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance for South Carolina’s worst winter storm in a decade. The order opening the way for federal aid is effective dating back to Monday. Three-quarters of the assistance will be federally funded.
Haley’s request for the disaster declaration noted that more than a quarter-inch of ice accumulation is expected to impact over 80 percent of the state.
The federal declaration comes a day after Haley declared a state of emergency in South Carolina. That brought the National Guard to active duty and activated the state’s Emergency Operations Plan.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.