Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 21, 1997
Contact:  Washington Emergency Management Division at (360) 438-7737 (Media Only)

WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY UPDATE # 16

OLYMPIA-A joint State-Federal Disaster Field Office is scheduled to open on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 5430 Martin Way E. in Lacey. The office will administer the assistance programs available as a result of President Clinton's disaster declaration for Snohomish and King counties on Jan. 17.


The Disaster Field Office is not an assistance center for members of the public seeking disaster recovery aid. Public assistance centers will be announced when they are opened in the declared disaster areas.


Approved in the President's federal disaster declaration were the following types of assistance:

federal aid to repair public facilities, such as roads and bridges.
federal assistance to remove debris from public facilities and roads.
U.S. Small Business Administration low interest loans for homeowners and businesses.
federal aid for disaster unemployment, housing, federal income tax relief and crisis counseling.
federal assistance to prevent future damage.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in King and Snohomish counties must begin the disaster application process by calling 1-800-462-9029 or 1-800-462-7585 (TDD) for the hearing and speech impaired.


Damage assessment surveys are continuing in the counties included in the governor's proclamation of emergency. The Washington Emergency Management Division expects late this week to start preparing recommendations to add eligible counties to the federal disaster declaration list.


The governor's proclamation of emergency covers 37 counties. The counties are Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman and Yakima.


Only Franklin and Douglas counties are not included in the governor's proclamation of emergency.


Members of the public can call the Storm Damage Hotline- 1-800-221-5947-for a recorded message on how to report their damages. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner also has a hotline-1-800-562-6900- for people with insurance questions and concerns.


The death toll in the holiday storm disaster now stands at 24.

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