FEMA Director Announces Four More Washington Counties as Federal Disaster Areas
Release Date: April 17, 2001
Release Number: 1361-57
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Olympia, WA -- FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh announced today the addition of four more counties for Public Assistance (PA) funds as a result of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Washington on Feb. 28. The announcement was made at the Fourth Avenue bridge in Olympia where construction on a temporary bridge is underway.
Cowlitz, Douglas, Pacific, and Walla Walla counties are now eligible for PA funds to receive federal disaster assistance for the repair, replacement or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and those of certain private non-profit organizations. Cowlitz and Pacific are already designated for Individual Assistance. All counties were automatically made eligible for Hazard Mitigation assistance with the original disaster declaration.
"Unlike the twenty counties declared for Individual Assistance, Public Assistance addresses the needs of a community's infrastructure," stated Allbaugh. "Structures such as schools, local governments and their various facilities may be eligible for federal and state disaster funds." The federal share of assistance is 75 percent of the eligible cost for emergency measures and permanent restoration. The State determines how the non-federal share (25 percent) is split with the applicants.
The addition of these four counties brings to 13 the number of counties eligible for federal funds to repair damaged infrastructure: Clallam, Cowlitz, Douglas, Grays Harbor, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Thurston, Snohomish, Whatcom and Walla Walla.
Twenty-three Indian Tribal governments also are eligible for Public Assistance and Individual Assistance: Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Lower Elwha, Lummi Nation, Makah Tribe, Muckleshoot Tribe, Nisqually Tribe, Nooksack Tribe, Port Gamble Indian Community, Puyallup Tribe, Quileute Tribe, Quinault Nation, Samish Nation, Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, Shoalwater Bay Tribe, Skokomish Tribe, Snoqualmie Tribe, Squaxin Island Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe, Suquamish Tribe, Swinomish Tribe, The Tulalip Tribes, and the Upper Skagit Tribe. Two Indian Tribal governments are eligible for Individual Assistance only: The Hoh Tribe and Yakama Nation.
More than 1,100 public buildings along with certain bridges and roads have been identified as possible candidates for Public Assistance.
Last Modified: Monday, 27-Oct-2003 16:10:35