News: Clark County, Wis. - Disaster Area (Meaning - 1958)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Eisenhower 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) June 26, 1958 
 

Disaster Area (Meaning - 1958) 
 

When President Eisenhower declined to designate four counties (including Clark) hit by tornado June 4, as a major disaster area, exactly what did that mean to the people, themselves? 
 

Did it mean that individuals who suffered loss and damage could not get federal grants? 
 

The Clark County Press tried to find out, with surprising results. 
 

For instance, it learned for one thing that there is little understanding even among lawyers, politicians and newspaper editors of the exact meaning. The common conception of people, generally, seemed to be that it meant people stricken by the disaster would be left to pull themselves out of their plight by themselves, and without help. 
 

For Public Buildings 
 

To be designated a "major disaster" area by the president would authorize the civil defense agency into action under Public Law 875. This act provides aid for public buildings, such as schools, city halls, etc., and for roads and bridges.  It does not provide for help to individuals. 
 

In Clark County the designation of a major disaster area, then, would have been of no financial value to the individuals hit; nor were public facilities under the meaning of the law hit.   
 

The lack of such designation, however, does not prevent the Farmers Home Administration, the Small Business Administration or others from invoking their own emergency programs, as laws detailing their functioning provide.  The two mentioned above have declared the tornado area eligible for emergency disaster aid, and are operating under these provisions. 
 

No Outright Grants –(there was not more of the article on my pages of copy).