Earthquake Recovery News Summary -- Assistance Exceeds $125 Million Following Registration Deadline
Release Date: July 20, 2001
Release Number: 1361-88
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Olympia, WA -- Federal and state agencies report disaster recovery aid is more than $125 million for Washington residents and businesses following the Nisqually earthquake, February 28. Assistance totals increase daily as assistance applications continue to be processed after the June 30 registration deadline. The 40,920 registrations from this disaster is greater than all other Washington disasters combined, recovery officials said.
The following information shows current total assistance numbers for the 22 declared counties and 24 Tribal Nations within the declared areas.
- Since the March 1 Presidential declaration, nearly $49.4 million in aid has been approved for temporary disaster housing assistance and minimal repair grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- Inspectors have completed 36,639 damage verifications in the declared counties.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved almost $73 million in low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.
- The Individual and Family Grant program has approved more than $2.7 million for residents affected by the earthquake. Grants are to assist with serious disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance or other disaster programs.
For the designated counties the total number of applicants and assistance approved to date for temporary disaster rental assistance, minimal repair grants and low-interest disaster loans are:
| County | Registrations | Approved Temporary Housing Assistance |
SBA Approved Disaster Loans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | 46 | $62,466 | $40,500 |
| Chelan | 115 | $136,875 | $47,200 |
| Clallam | 130 | $121,760 | $64,200 |
| Clark | 195 | $209,794 | $160,500 |
| Cowlitz | 149 | $264,256 | $292,900 |
| Grays Harbor | 2066 | $3,518,642 | $1,889,600 |
| Island | 116 | $131,752 | $163,400 |
| Jefferson | 96 | $116,379 | $112,300 |
| King | 1611 | $18,541,827 | $36,202,200 |
| Kitsap | 2638 | $3,086,612 | $4,430,100 |
| Kittitas | 109 | $119,038 | $65,900 |
| Lewis | 1212 | $1,776,118 | $2,008,900 |
| Mason | 794 | $1,064,269 | $1,077,700 |
| Pacific | 232 | $446,025 | $148,600 |
| Pierce | 8376 | $11,166,147 | $10,796,200 |
| Skagit | 402 | $461,524 | $840,500 |
| Skamania | 7 | $8,859 | $3,000 |
| Snohomish | 1516 | $1,185,047 | $1609,500 |
| Thurston | 5378 | $5,589,525 | $12,372,200 |
| Wahkiakum | 31 | $55,142 | $53,700 |
| Whatcom | 703 | $715,007 | $348,600 |
| Yakima | 454 | $587,535 | $266,900 |
FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate individuals for their entire loss. Persons covered by insurance may receive assistance from the government for areas not covered by their insurance. Some disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other types of help may come in the form of loans from the SBA.
Low-interest loans from SBA may be available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes to cover private property damage that is not fully compensated by insurance or other sources. Disaster loans from SBA are the primary source of funds for repairing earthquake damage.
Those affected who have registered and have questions about their applications should call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-525-0321. Lines are open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
People who want to protect their property from future earthquake damage can call FEMA's Mitigation Helpline, 1-800-838-7046, to answer questions on rebuilding and retrofitting. This number is staffed 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 29-Oct-2003 13:14:38