The Bureau of Public Debt took action to assist victims of severe weather in Alabama by expediting the replacement or payment of United States Savings Bonds for owners in the affected areas. The emergency procedures are effective immediately for paying agents and owners in Alabama by the storms. These procedures will remain in effect through the end of January 2002.

Public Debt's action waives the normal six-month minimum holding period for Series EE and Series I savings bonds presented to authorized paying agents for redemption by residents of the affected area. Most financial institutions serve as paying agents for savings bonds.

Alabama counties involved are Autauga, Blount, Butler, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Dale, DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall, St. Clair, Talladega and Winston. Should additional counties be declared disaster areas the emergency procedures for savings bonds owners will go into effect for those areas.

The replacement of bonds lost or destroyed will also be expedited by Public Debt. Bond owners should complete form PD-1048, available at most financial institutions or by writing the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank�s Savings Bond Customer Service Department, 701 East Byrd Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219; phone (804) 697-8370. This form can also be downloaded from Public Debt�s website at: www.publicdebt.treas.gov. Bond owners should include as much information as possible about the lost bonds on the form. This information should include how the bonds were inscribed, social security number, approximate dates of issue, bond denominations and serial numbers if available. The completed form must be certified by a notary public or an officer of a financial institution. Completed forms should be sent to: Bureau of Public Debt, Office of Investor Services, 200 Third St., Parkersburg, West Virginia 26106-1328. Bond owners should write the word "DISASTER" on the front of their envelopes, to help expedite the processing of claims.