News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 23, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Views Flood Damaged Areas, Will Seek Federal Assistance for Storm Victims

Gov. Gary Locke Views Flood Damaged Areas, Will Seek Federal Assistance for Storm Victims

MT. VERNON – Oct. 23, 2003 – Gov. Gary Locke today viewed Snohomish and Skagit counties by air and visited downtown Mt. Vernon and Hamilton to survey damage from this past week’s torrential rain storm. The governor announced that he would seek federal funding to assist with the state’s recovery efforts.

Joining the governor in viewing the damage was Glen Woodbury, director of Washington State Emergency Management, and Brig. Gen. Gordon D. Toney, commander of the Washington Army National Guard. Mayor Skye Richendrfer provide the ground tour of Mt. Vernon while Mayor Tim Bates and Skagit County Commissioners Ted Anderson, Ken Dahlstedt, and Don Munks led the tour of Hamilton.

“I want to applaud the heroic efforts by hundreds of volunteers who built the sandbag wall that saved the city of Mount Vernon from the Skagit River flood waters,” Locke. “We must now quickly tally these flood damages to determine if the state can proceed with a request for a federal disaster declaration and help those who have been affected.”

The governor also praised the work of the state’s National Guard, Emergency Management Division, Department of Transportation, State Patrol, and Department of Ecology, as well as the American Red Cross, the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, and numerous other state and federal agencies for teaming with local officials to help communities during this ordeal.

Yesterday, the governor revised the state’s proclamation of emergency issued Oct. 17 to include Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason and Snohomish counties. Widespread flooding in Clallam, Skagit and Whatcom counties prompted the initial declaration.

“We hope that residents who have sustained flooding damages report them to their local emergency management agency,” Woodbury said. “It is important that we have the most complete picture of the damage so that we can help as many people as possible.”

The preliminary assessment of damages to individuals and households begins today, concurrent with the governor’s visit to Skagit County. Assessment teams are already at work in Mason, Pierce and Kitsap counties.

The assessment teams may consist of officials from each county, Washington State Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration. The preliminary assessment process is targeted for completion in Clallam, Jefferson, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties by this weekend. Meanwhile, local governments and the state have also begun the more involved process of assessing damages to roads, bridges, buildings and other public structures.

Once the data is collected, Locke will determine if he can request a presidential disaster declaration for the state.

Recent flooding disasters in the Puget Sound area resulted in Washington state receiving $57 million in federal disaster assistance in 1990 and $45 million in 1995. The state has received 27 presidential declarations for flooding disasters since 1956.


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