Gov. Gregoire proclaims state of emergency for January storms

For Immediate Release: February 15, 2011

OLYMPIA� Gov. Chris Gregoire today proclaimed a state of emergency in 17 counties due to damage from a series of severe winter storms between Jan. 9-26, 2011.

�The extensive rainfall and high winds caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, highways and public facilities,� Gregoire said. �The estimated cost to repair the damages is currently more than $1.1 million and growing.�

Gregoire�s emergency proclamation includes Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grant, Grays Harbor, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Wahkiakum and Whatcom counties. The proclamation will allow the use of state resources to meet the emergency needs of local jurisdictions.

�Local and federal officials are continuing to work with the state Emergency Management Division to assess the extent of storm damages and how to recover from them,� added Jim Mullen, state emergency management division director.

Also today, Gregoire asked President Obama to declare a federal disaster area in seven Washington counties due to damage from a severe winter storm that occurred between Dec. 8 and 18, 2010.

Preliminary state and federal damage assessments found an estimated $10.3 million in eligible damage across the state caused by flooding, power outages, mudslides and landslides.

Gregoire�s request seeks federal disaster aid for public facility damage in seven counties�Clallam, Cowlitz, Kitsap, Mason, Skagit, Skamania and Snohomish.

The letter stated that the impact of these damages is magnified because the disaster hit at the end the counties� fiscal year. The letter also noted that most of the impacted counties are smaller rural counties with smaller operational budgets.

If the declaration is approved, the resulting Federal Emergency Management Agency grants will defray 75 percent of the eligible damages and costs.

To view the presidential disaster request, visit: https://www.piersystem.com/external/content/document/1105/1017943/1/Presidential%20Disaster%20Request%20Letter.pdf

To read the emergency proclamation, visit: http://governor.wa.gov/proclamations/pr_11-03.pdf

Additional information about a governor�s emergency proclamation, can be found at:
http://www.emd.wa.gov/disaster//Section2Chapter3Apr2009.pdf