DCLPublicationDate: 4/1/97 DCLID: Disaster Letter-97-11 AwardYear: Summary: Declared disaster areas for recent floods in North Dakota and South Dakota. April 8, 1997 SUMMARY: Declared disaster areas for recent floods in North Dakota and South Dakota. Dear Guaranty Agency Director: On April 7, President Clinton declared the ENTIRE states of NORTH DAKOTA and SOUTH DAKOTA to be disaster areas because of severe winter weather and flooding that those states have experienced. For North Dakota, the President's disaster declaration is retroactive to February 28. For South Dakota, it is retroactive to February 3. For borrower-initiated 90-day forbearances under the guidelines first outlined in the January 14, 1997 "Dear Guaranty Agency Director" letter, the February 3 and February 28 dates may be used retroactively. Lenders and guaranty agencies may also grant a borrower-initiated 90-day forbearance on or after the date of this letter if the lender or guarantor believes the borrower needs one. We will notify you if additional areas in other states are designated by the President or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Lenders and guaranty agencies may contact the Department's toll-free number at 1-800-433-7327, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST for further updates. This letter has also been sent to each regional office of the Department, plus the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs, Inc., the Consumer Bankers Association, and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Sincerely, Pamela A. Moran Chief, Loans Branch Policy Development Division Student Financial Assistance Programs |