JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - President Bush has issued a federal
disaster declaration that will free up money to help Missouri
recover from a series of winter storms.

More than 170,000 homes and businesses were without power at the
peak of the storms earlier this month.

Public assistance is available for 42 counties. The declaration
also provides money for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Bush earlier declared a state of emergency in Missouri to help
assist the state with the initial emergency work.

Counties included in Thursday's declaration are: Adair, Andrew,
Atchison, Audrain, Barton, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell,
Callaway, Camden, Cedar, Clinton, Cole, Dade, Daviess, DeKalb,
Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Hickory, Holt, Jasper, Lincoln, Linn,
McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton,
Nodaway, Osage, Pike, Putnam, St. Clair, Schuyler, Scotland,
Sullivan, Warren and Worth.