News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 31, 1998
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke to appeal FEMA's decision on the Kelso landslide

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today announced he will appeal Federal Emergency Management's decision to not grant federal disaster aid to the victims of the landslide in Kelso.

Locke said he is appealing the decision since the Small Business Administration has approved the loan application. Before that approval, an appeal would have held up the SBA process.

"The homeowners in the Aldercrest neighborhood need help and we're doing everything we can to assist them," said Locke. "Now that the SBA application has been approved an appeal will not stop the process of securing loans for residents."

When informed of the FEMA rejection while on a trade mission to Japan and Taiwan last week, Locke called Vice President Gore's office and the White House to discuss the FEMA rejection and explain the plight of the Kelso landowners.

On Friday, Locke spoke with James Lee Witt, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and received assurances that an appeal would not affect the SBA low-interest loans process at this stage.

Also, on Friday, the governor's staff met with some landowners in Olympia.

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