1.   By early Sunday, Gov. George Pataki had declared eight counties to be disaster areas.

2.   DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones is careful not to declare his county the heart of the black mecca, although he acknowledges trying to encourage black-owned businesses.

3.   President Clinton declared three counties -- Jefferson, St. Clair and Tuscaloosa -- disaster areas, making them eligible for federal help.

4.   Gov. Bill Graves declared the county a disaster area, which could make the area eligible for federal assistance, a spokesman said.