U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Washington, D.C. 20410-8000

 
                         April 17, 1998
 
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
FOR HOUSING-FEDERAL HOUSING COMMISSIONER
 
MORTGAGEE LETTER 98-19
 
TO: ALL APPROVED MORTGAGEES
 
SUBJECT:  Single Family Loan Production and Servicing - Special
        Program, Underwriting, and Servicing Policies to Assist
        Victims of Presidentially - Declared Major Disaster
        Areas - Minnesota, North Carolina, Georgia, New Jersey,
        Alabama, and Kentucky
 
     This Mortgagee Letter advises you of actions taken by the
Department to assist victims of tornadoes in Minnesota and North
Carolina; of flooding in Georgia, New Jersey and Alabama; and of
winter storms in Kentucky.
 
     The President's declaration of a major disaster area for
Minnesota was signed on April 1, 1998 and includes Brown, LeSuer,
Nicollet and Rice counties.
 
     The President's declaration of a major disaster area for
North Carolina was signed on March 22, 1998 and includes
Rockingham county.
 
     The President's declaration of a major disaster area for
Georgia was signed on March 11, 1998 and includes Baker,
Dougherty, Irwin, Miller, Montgomery and Seminole counties.  As
of March 31, 1998, an additional seventy (70) counties have been
added to this declaration.  These counties are:
Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley,
Brantley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Candler, Carroll,
Charlton, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crawford, Crisp,
Dawson, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Douglas, Early, Emanuel, Evans,
Glynn, Grady, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Jeff Davis,
Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lamar, Laurens, Lee, Macon,
McIntosh, Mitchell, Monroe, Pike, Pulaski, Quitman, Rabun,
Randolph, Screven, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Tattnall, Telfair,
Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Webster, Wheeler,
White, Wilcox, Wilkinson and Worth.  Lenders should consult with
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in their area to
obtain the declaration date of the counties declared between
March 12th and March 31st, 1998.
 
     The President's declaration of a major disaster area for New
Jersey was signed on March 10, 1998 and includes Atlantic and
Cape May counties.
                                                        
     The President's declaration of a major disaster area for
Alabama was signed on March 9, 1998 and includes Coffee, Dale,
Escambia, Geneva and Houston counties.
 
     The President's declaration of a major disaster area for
Kentucky was signed on March 3, 1998 and includes Bath, Estill,
Jackson, Laurel, Lewis, McCreary, Powell, Rockcastle and Wayne
counties.
 
     The procedures described in HUD Handbooks 4155.1  REV-4, CHG-1,
Chapter 2 and 4330.1  REV-5, Chapter 14 are in effect
immediately and will remain in effect for one year from the date
of the President's declaration.  Any areas added to this
declaration will also be eligible for disaster relief and the
same procedures apply.
 
     If you have any questions, please contact your local HUD
office.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Art Agnos
Acting General Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Housing-Federal
Housing Commissioner