Gov. Gregoire announces additional flood disaster declaration for King and Snohomish counties

For Immediate Release: December 21, 2007

OLYMPIA � The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today approved the addition of King and Snohomish counties to the individual assistance disaster declaration for this month�s storm and floods.

�We know that this holiday season will be tough for many families affected by the December storms, so the addition of King and Snohomish counties to the individual assistance declaration is wonderful news,� said Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The total number of counties eligible for individual assistance now stands at nine, including King, Snohomish, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, Clallam and Kitsap.

The new individual assistance declaration will make housing grants, financial assistance grants and loans to individuals, families and small businesses available to eligible flood and storm survivors in King and Snohomish counties.

Individuals need to register with FEMA, using the 1-800-621-FEMA toll-free number or the online registration at www.fema.gov.

As of Thursday, Dec. 20, disaster aid registrations totaled more than 6,000, with more than $8.2 million approved in disaster aid.

The total number of counties eligible for complete FEMA public assistance is 12 � Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, Clallam, Jefferson, King, Skagit, Snohomish and Wahkiakum.

Last week, Gov. Gregoire released her 2008 budget that would provide state aid for disaster victims. Her budget proposal would include up to $10 million for the Housing Trust Fund, to be prioritized for affordable housing in those areas hurt the most by the recent storms. It would also create bond authorization for the state�s portion of the Chehalis-Centralia Flood Control Project, establish the appropriation authority of $15 million for the 25 percent match required by FEMA, and allocate $2 million from the Governor�s Economic Development Strategic Reserve Account for economic recovery of small businesses in the areas worst hit and where federal funds do not help.

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