OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee has asked President Barack Obama to approve his request for a major disaster declaration to help defray costs in 31 counties including Clallam and Jefferson.
Inslee made the request Friday. If approved, it would provide federal assistance for local jurisdictions recovering from a November storm that brought high winds, flooding and landslides.
Inslee said the storm resulted in more than $21 million in damages statewide. The governor specifically asked for assistance in 31 counties. Other counties are Adams, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Cowlitz, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Whitman and Yakima.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency grant program would defray 75 percent of the eligible costs of the emergency response, debris removal and permanent repairs to roads, bridges, public utilities and other public infrastructure, if approved. Inslee also asked that the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program be made available statewide. The program provides funds for community planning and projects designed to limit or prevent future disaster damage.
