Gov. Gregoire proclaims emergency in Yakima County due to State Route 410 damage

For Immediate Release: October 13, 2009

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire today proclaimed an emergency in Yakima County because of damage to State Route 410 west of Naches.

�The roadway damage affects the safety of those living within the area. Local residents must now travel two hours on a forest road to reach basic services or employment in the Yakima area. This proclamation will speed up resources to assist in recovery efforts,� said Gregoire. �I applaud the efforts of emergency crews and local residents who have shown great resolve these past few days.�

Gregoire�s proclamation directs state agencies and departments to utilize state resources and assist affected areas recover from the event.

WSDOT has implemented emergency contracting procedures in order to perform repair work as quickly as possible. The governor�s emergency proclamation also allows WSDOT to pursue federal emergency relief funds to finance the repair work.

�Crews are out today working on our first priority, constructing a temporary route to let people safely move in and out of the area,� said Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond.

The temporary route around the damaged section is the first step to re-connect services to businesses and those who live along SR 410 beyond the slide area. WSDOT closed a section of SR 410 at 6 a.m. Sunday when the highway was uplifted and pushed into the Naches River.