PORT ANGELES — Clallam is one of 17 counties for which Gov. Chris Gregoire has declared a state of emergency for storm damage sustained between Jan. 9 and Jan. 26.
High winds rattled the North Olympic Peninsula for several days in mid-January, and heavy rains triggered a mudslide that blocked state Highway 112 east of Neah Bay on Jan. 14.
‘Extensive rainfall’
“The extensive rainfall and high winds caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, highways and public facilities,” Gregoire said in a news release.
“The estimated cost to repair the damages is currently more than $1.1 million and growing.”
The emergency declaration means state agencies can spend money beyond budget appropriations to offer aid to local jurisdictions.
The declaration covers Clallam, Chelan, Clark, Cowlitz, Grant, Grays Harbor, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Wahkiakum and Whatcom counties.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jim Borte said much of the damage occurred on Clallam’s West End.
Tribes reported
“That was reported by the Makah and Quileute tribes,” he said.
“Clallam County Public Works also filed some damage-response costs associated with the storm.”
The state Department of Transportation hired a contractor to remove 300 to 400 truckloads of mud that blocked the only paved access to Neah Bay on Jan. 16.
“That took the total above the qualifying threshold,” Borte said.
The qualifying threshold was $210,996.75, Borte said.
Gregoire also asked President Barack Obama to declare a federal disaster area in seven Washington counties — Clallam, Cowlitz, Kitsap, Mason, Skagit, Skamania and Snohomish — for damage caused by winter storms between Dec. 8 and Dec. 18.
Snow, high winds
Snow, high winds and heavy rain caused flooding, landslides and power outages.
Federal Emergency Management Agency grants will defray 75 percent of eligible damage and costs from the December storms if the declaration is approved.