2002 press releases

U.S. Government and Americans Plan Flood Assistance to the Czech Republic

Prague, August 16, 2002 

Reports of extensive flood damage in Prague and throughout the country have raised broad concern in the United States among the many friends of the Czech Republic. Following discussions with President George W. Bush, his father, former President George Bush, spoke yesterday with President Vaclav Havel by telephone to express American sympathy for the Czech people and support for recovery efforts.
 
U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Craig Roberts Stapleton will return Prague on Sunday from the United States, where he has been working on securing both U.S. government and private assistance for flood victims, and for clean-up and restoration from flood damage.
 
To date, the U.S. government is providing assistance in an amount of nearly a half million dollars, including a cash contribution of $50,000 to the Czech Red Cross for immediate humanitarian assistance, pumps and drying equipment offered by the U.S. Military Command for Europe to the Ministry of Interior to use in afflicted areas, as well as humanitarian and technical supplies being delivered to the city of Pilsen from the European Command.
 
The U.S. Embassy is offering to the Prague municipality to "adopt" Kampa Island and the grounds around the Kampa Museum, to assist in clean-up of the grounds, as well as to undertake fund-raising from U.S. companies and private citizens for repair and restoration of the park and museum. The U.S. Embassy in Prague has also established a special account to receive contributions from U.S. Embassy employees for assistance to flood victims.
 
In the U.S., the American Friends of the Czech Republic, in cooperation with the Czech Embassy in Washington, D.C., has opened an account to facilitate contributions from Americans throughout the U.S.
 
Ambassador Stapleton will travel to Pilsen on Tuesday, August 20, to meet with Mayor Jiri Sneberger, to discuss the region's anticipated needs for flood relief.
 

The Embassy remains in close contact with Czech government officials, and the U.S. Government, both civilian and military, will continue to identify the ways in which we can provide the most effective assistance in addressing both the immediate and long-term needs created by this natural disaster.