EVERETT — As damage reports from across Snohomish County continued to flow in Thursday, the local bill from this week’s wave of flooding was approaching $10 million, officials said.
At one home, the walls, floors, sidewalks, kitchen and bathroom are damaged. It will cost $15,000 to fix, according to the homeowner.
Someone else said their basement and furnace were damaged. The bill: $10,000.
Another claims $25,000 in damage to his roof.
The situation is similar for all of the more than 325 people who have called in to report damage since flooding began on Monday, said John Pennington, director of the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.
“The phones are just ringing off the hook,” Pennington said. There’s no damage total yet, but “it looks like the average loss that we’re taking — as estimated by the homeowners — is running at $7,500.”
Add it up, and the potential bill climbs to nearly $2.5 million for residential damage alone, a figure that’s sure to grow as more homeowners report damage.
More than 20 businesses also have reported damage, including two Lynnwood apartment complexes where people were displaced by urban flooding, said Mark Murphy, response and recovery program manager for emergency management department.
At Wilshire Cove Apartments, 18 units were damaged and another 29 that were inaccessible because of flood waters are thought to have some form of damage, Murphy said. Oxford Square Apartments had at least four apartments damaged, each with 6 inches of water flowing across the floors.
“The bottom portion of any walls and the carpet were damaged,” he said.
Murphy said he doesn’t have a damage estimate for businesses yet.
Snohomish County Public Works has reported $1 million in damage to more than 30 roads scattered across the county, a number that became more solid on Thursday, said Steve Thomsen, the county’s public works director.
Edmonds has road damage that could cost up to $1 million to. County parks and Snohomish County PUD together could have another $1 million in damage, officials said.
The most expensive problem is a blown out culvert on Seattle Hill Road between I-5 and Snohomish. Work is expected to cost $5 million. It is scheduled to get under way next week. The job may not be done before mid January.
Add it, up and the potential bill from the flooding in Snohomish County already has topped $10 million.
Pennington said it appears there will be enough damage to homes and businesses for Snohomish County to qualify for federal emergency dollars. If so, Pennington said he will petition Gov. Chris Gregoire to add Snohomish County to the list of counties that she is asking for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Gregoire on Thursday petitioned President Bush for federal help in Grays Harbor and Lewis counties in southwestern Washington. She said she expects to seek aid for more counties.
Reporter Lukas Velush: 425-339-3449 or lvelush@heraldnet.com.
Report damage
The Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management is urging property and business owners to report flood damage to their structures. The amounts will be tallied and shared with state officials. The information may help Gov. Chris Gregoire ask for federal assistance.
People with damage are urged to document it, find photos of what it looked like before the flood, keep all receipts and estimate what it would cost to fix it in today’s dollars.
Call 425-388-5060 during business hours. Expect the call to take about 10 minutes.
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