Gov. Gregoire Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for November Flood Damage

For Immediate Release: November 21, 2006

Governor encourages Washingtonians to support their neighbors in need

OLYMPIA - Governor Chris Gregoire today asked President Bush to declare a federal disaster in 11 Washington counties. The request covers Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, King, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston and Wahkiakum counties and is based on a damage survey conducted last week by six teams of local, state and federal officials.

�Families in these counties have been hit hard by this month�s flooding,� said Governor Gregoire. �Today I have asked President Bush for federal assistance that will help these families and communities recover and rebuild.�

Preliminary damage surveys conducted in these counties last week found that 104 homes have been destroyed, 206 homes sustained major damage and 572 homes received minor damage.

Governor Gregoire�s disaster request initially seeks two forms of federal disaster assistance. The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) is for families and individuals and the Hazard Mitigation Program uses a percentage of disaster assistance to fund mitigation projects that will prevent future disaster damage. Governor Gregoire has requested that the IHP assistance include crisis counseling assistance and training, disaster unemployment assistance and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans.

Public infrastructure damage surveys will begin November 27. The results of these surveys will determine whether the state will update the disaster request to include the Public Assistance Program, which aids governments in repairing damage to public infrastructure, such as public buildings and water systems.

�My gratitude goes out to all those who have supported these communities during these trying times. The National Guard, Washington State Troopers, local Emergency Management offices and hundreds of volunteers worked countless hours to help their neighbors,� said Governor Gregoire.

Governor Gregoire also encouraged Washingtonians to support their neighbors in need as we head into the holiday season. Those who are interested may choose to donate to the Washington Faith-Based Disaster Recovery Network. They will distribute contributions based on need to the following long-term recovery programs:

• Interfaith Association of NW Washington (Snohomish, Skagit)
  
• Skagit Interfaith Flood Recovery (Skagit)
  
• Church Council of Greater Seattle (King)
  
• Associated Ministries of Pierce County (Pierce)
  
• White Pass Community Service Center (Lewis)

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Donations may be sent to:
Washington Faith-Based Disaster Recovery Network
419 Occidental, Suite #206
Attn: Flood Recovery
Seattle, WA 98104

For questions, please contact Neil Molenaar, Manager, at 360-710-7248.