OLYMPIA – President Bush on Thursday authorized federal aid for Washington counties that were pounded by storms over the winter.
The declaration applies to Snohomish, Island, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, San Juan and Wahkiakum counties. The agency said other areas may be added if further damage assessments warrant it.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the president’s declaration of a major disaster in the region will open up assistance for local governments and nonprofit groups, supplementing state and local recovery efforts.
The government will share the cost of emergency work that was done during the period between Jan. 27 and Feb. 4, and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by flooding, tidal surges, landslides and mudslides, Snow said in a statement. The federal match is typically 75 percent.
Some areas of the state had record rainfall over the winter, and damage was widespread.
“Homeowners, business owners, and property owners won’t be able to seek assistance,” said Rob Harper, spokesman for the state Emergency Management Division.
“This is directed at local government, roads, sewers, water facilities and public utilities, and it is really significant for some of these counties where the tax base is limited and their ability to pay these out-of-pocket costs is limited. It is a significant burden for them.”
It is the third federal emergency declaration in he state since 2001. The earlier ones were the Nisqually earthquake in 2001 and the 2003 floods.
Gov. Chris Gregoire initially proposed including all 39 counties in the declaration, but later settled on the 11 hardest-hit counties. The governor’s office did not immediately comment on the president’s action.
Gregoire earlier said damage to federal roads alone topped $6 million. The total damage estimate was not immediately available Thursday, and regional officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said assessments still are being made.
R. David Paulison, acting FEMA director at the Department of Homeland Security, named Lee Champagne as coordinating officer for the federal effort. Spokesman Mike Howard said the state and FEMA will set up a joint field office soon.
Bush issued a similar declaration for Oregon in March.
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