OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke and the Federal Emergency Management Agency signed an agreement Tuesday that triggers federal disaster help for 15 Washington counties that were hit by severe flooding last month.
The governor and FEMA regional director John Pennington, a former state House leader from Cowlitz County, signed the agreement at the state Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray north of here.
The White House declared the counties a federal disaster area on Friday.
The declaration and Tuesday’s follow-up agreement will provide federal funding for recovery efforts in Snohomish, Chelan, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Okanogan, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Thurston and Whatcom counties.
Additional counties may be added when damage surveys are complete.
Federal help includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other aid to help business owners, farmers, ranchers and others recover from the floods.
At last count, the flood damage toll in Western Washington was $30 million and climbing — $15 million in preliminary estimates for homes and businesses, and another $15 million for state highways.
"Despite all the damage and destruction, our communities have vowed to rebuild," the governor said a statement released by his office after the signing ceremony. "Today we’ve taken a big step in that direction — offering help and hope to those who need it most."
Pennington said the government already has heard from hundreds of flood victims and expects to send out the first assistance checks "in a matter of days."
Preliminary estimates found 33 homes destroyed, 112 homes with major damage and 207 homes with minor damage after record rains caused Western Washington flooding Oct. 15-23.
Some wells and septic systems were compromised, farms were damaged, and public buildings and numerous state, federal and local roads were damaged.
More than 3,400 people were evacuated from communities along the Skagit River.
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