State And FEMA Sign Agreement To Provide Assistance For The January Storm, Slide And Flood Damage
Release Date: February 6, 2009
Release Number: 1817-010
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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have signed an agreement that forms a state-federal partnership to administer disaster assistance for the January storm, slide and flood damage.
"The agreement forms the basis to provide disaster aid payments to eligible individuals," said Gov. Gregoire. "It will ensure that federal and state disaster aid will help our people start to rebuild from last month's storms, slides and flooding."
Gov. Gregoire requested a federal disaster declaration on Jan. 21 after surveys found an estimated 497 residences that were destroyed or suffered major damage and another 2,340 residences that needed repairs. President Obama approved a federal disaster declaration Jan. 30 for individual assistance disaster aid in eight counties.
"The agreement formalizes the state-federal partnership that has operated for several weeks to respond to and recover from the widespread January storms, slides and flooding," said Dennis Hunsinger, acting FEMA 10 administrator.
Hunsinger said the agreement "establishes a funding platform that supports FEMA's housing assistance grants and the state/federal Other Needs Assistance for personal property losses from Jan. 6-16."
Since Jan. 30, FEMA already has paid more than $675,000 in housing grants to 226 Washington disaster applicants.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism and man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Friday, 06-Feb-2009 15:48:26