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