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Helping Washingtonians Recover from Flood and Storm Damage (Last Updated: Jan. 13, 2009)In the wake of the devastating storms that passed through Western Washington, thousands of residents have had their daily lives completely disrupted. It is clear that our residents need help to quickly rebuild their communities and get back on track. I am working to ensure that our communities and businesses get the help they need in a timely matter. I would also like to commend all of the local leaders who have done a tremendous job helping the people affected by this flooding. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the Washington residents affected by this devastation. Please know that I am a resource to you during this difficult time. To help you figure out what to do now, I have assembled some information and support resources for you and your families and I'll provide more information to my web page as more information and support becomes available. I know that it will take all of us to repair and rebuild our communities and that we have a long and challenging path to recovery ahead of us. But I also know that together we can do it. Please do not hesitate to call my offices in Vancouver at (360) 696-7838 or Seattle at (206) 220-6400 or via the web at http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/office_locations.cfm if I can provide any additional assistance.
Update Jan. 13, 2009The Washington State Department of Health has issued a biold water advisory for the following: Residents of South Bend, the Parpala Road area of Naselle in Pacific County; Reporting Damage: King County - To report uninsured losses, a King County Emergency Services hotline is available at (800) 523-5044. Individuals with damage to report should contact their own insurance company first. The hotline will be open Tuesday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. The county will report estimated losses to the state to seek an emergency declaration for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Some uninsured losses might be compensated by FEMA. Anyone suffering damage should document it with photographs and a written description. Snohomish County - Damange reports may be filed by calling the county's Department of Emergency Management office at (425) 388-5060 or by filing out and returning a damage assessment form found at http://www.snoco.org/departments/emergency_management. Helpful Websites: www.fema.gov - Official site for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Provides planning advice for a variety of types of disasters, a citizen guide to preparedness, information on how to identify possible hazards or emergencies, and a link to review maps in your area. www.ready.gov - Provides information for the general public on how to make an emergency supply kit, create a family emergency plan and stay informed during a disaster. Also provides a link for business owners and an interactive link for kids to learn about emergency preparedness. www.floodsmart.gov - Official site of the National Flood Insurance Program. Provides flood awareness information, including how to assess your flood risk, advice for preparation and recovery, and descriptions of flood insurance policies. www.nafsma.org - Website for the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies: an organization of public agencies whose function is the protection of lives, propoerty, and economic activity from the adverse impacts of storm and floodwaters. www.floods.org - Website for the Association of State Floodplain Managers: an organization of professionals involved in a floodplain management, flood hazard mitigration, the National Flood Insurance Program, and flood preparedness, warning, and recovery. Quick Safety Tips in Aftermath of Floods and Storms
Residents in homes without power should also be aware of the following safety tips:
Updated 1/13/2009: Getting Help from the Red CrossRed Cross Service Centers: The list of available Red Cross shelters may be subject to closings. As we receive new information, we will update any additional closings or openings. Please contact your local Red Cross chapter listed below for operational hours: The American Red Cross has opened service centers around key affected areas to provide residents with a voucher to purchase new clothing, groceries, essential medications, bedding, essential furnishings, and other items to meet emergency needs. They can also provide rental lodging guidance and other services. The Red Cross can also help provide you with a cleanup kit: mop, broom, bucket, and cleaning supplies. Most Red Cross service centers are open 24 hours. King County - Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church, 1700 Edmonds Avenue NE, Renton; King County Red Cross: (206) 323-2345 Lewis County - Westminster Presbyterian Church, 349 North Market Blvd, Chehalis; Centralia LDS Church, 2801 Mount Vista, Centralia; Lewis County Red Cross: (360) 748-4607 Skagit County - St. Catherine Catholic Mission Rec. Center, 45603 Limestone St., Concrete. Assembly of God, 59831 State Route 20, Marblemount. Skagit County Red Cross: (360)424-5291 Snohomish County - Rock Church, 16891 146th Street SE, Monroe; Snohomish County Red Cross: (425) 252-4103 Whatcom County - Rome Grange, 2821 E. Sunset Dr., Bellingham; Whatcom New Life Assembly, 2290 Main Street, Ferndale (360) 384-4101. Whatcom County Red Cross: (360) 733-3290 If you are in the impacted areas and need assistance, you can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) to find out more information. Flood-related Vaccinations: It is recommended that individuals in flooded areas get a tetanus vaccination if they have not received one within the last ten years. If you have received a cut or wound, you may want to contact a health care provider to see if you need to be vaccinated before the ten year period has expired. It is also recommended that anyone over six months old receive an influenza vaccine, especially those living in group settings. Avoid Storm-Related ScamsBeware of possible flood-related scams including fraudulent home repair offers, charity appeals and identity theft cons posing as government officials. Offers to help with repairs and cleanup Don't take a contractor's word that your insurance company will cover the damage. Check directly with your insurance company. Special insurance policies are typically required for coverage of flood or mudslide damage. Always get written estimates and contracts. Contracts should clearly state all the tasks a contractor will perform, all fees associated with the work and who will apply for the necessary permits. All guarantees made by the contractor should be specified in writing. All contractors who do construction work in Washington must be registered with the state Department of Labor and Industries, post a bond and carry general liability insurance coverage. Check with Labor and Industries to ensure a contractor you intend to hire is properly registered. You can search online or call 1-800-647-0982. Charity solicitations If you want to help, give directly to a familiar organization such as the Red Cross or Salvation Army. Do not give your credit card number or other personal information in response to a telephone solicitation. Don't click on links in e-mails - which often send you to bogus Web sites set up by cons who want to steal from you. Watch out for solicitations that bear similar names to legitimate organizations. You can confirm that a charity is registered with the Washington Secretary of State's Office by calling 1-800-332-4483 or searching online. Cons posing as government officials Cons will sometimes claim to be government officials in order to request cash up front for repairs, telling the homeowners that their insurance money is coming soon. Or they may pretend to assist you in filling out an application for assistance funds but are really identity thieves looking to steal your personal information. Insist on seeing proper identification from anyone who offers assistance and never provide personal information to an unknown caller or someone who comes to the door. Flood-damaged cars Report fraud Aid for Small Business Owners, Homeowners, and RentersThrough its Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA), the Small Business Administration (SBA) provides affordable, timely and accessible financial assistance to qualifying homeowners, renters and businesses, in the form of low-interest, long-term loans. SBA's disaster loans are the primary form of federal assistance for the repair and rebuilding of non-farm, private sector disaster losses. For this reason, the disaster loan program is the only form of SBA assistance not limited to small businesses. Currently, homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to cover unreimbursed personal property losses following a disaster declaration. Homeowners may also borrow up to $200,000 to cover unreimbursed real property losses. Businesses may borrow up to $1.5 million to cover the cost of repairs and to cover certain other losses for economic injury, which is the inability to make normal payments for supplies, payroll, etc. To learn whether you might be eligible for aid, visit the Small Business Administration or call 1-800-659-2955. Donating to Charities to Help Storm VictimsIf you want to help storm victims, below are a few local organizations that are helping out in our communities. Donate online:
Don't forget that scam artists often take advantage of disaster situations by soliciting donations for a bogus charity. If you want to help, give directly to a familiar organization such as the Red Cross or Salvation Army. Do not give your credit card number or other personal information in response to a telephone solicitation. Don't click on links in e-mails - which often send you to bogus Web sites set up by cons who want to steal from you. Watch out for solicitations that bear similar names to legitimate organizations. |
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