Gov. Gary Locke and the Federal Emergency Management Agency signed an agreement Tuesday that triggers federal disaster help for Jefferson, Clallam and 13 other counties that were hit by severe flooding last month.
Locke 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.
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 Chelan, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Okanogan, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties.
Additional counties may be added when damage surveys are complete.