News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 17, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Rob Harper at the Emergency Management Division at 360-438-7737

Locke thanks President for federal disaster declaration for King and Snohomish Counties

OLYMPIA - Governor Gary Locke today thanked President Clinton and U.S. officials for acting quickly to declare a federal disaster from the recent winter storm damage in King and Snohomish counties.


"The ice storm and flooding were devastating to thousands of people in our state," Locke said. "This prompt federal action will help these people and businesses rebuild their homes and workplaces and begin to regain their normal lives."


Federal disaster aid was made available today to help people and communities in Washington recover from the recent storms. James Lee Witt, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, designated King and Snohomish counties for assistance to affected residents and business owners.


Witt said the assistance was authorized by President Clinton under the major disaster declaration issued for the state this afternoon. The declaration covers damage from the storms, flooding, and mudslides that struck the state starting Dec. 26 last year.


Locke said teams of federal, state and local officials will continue to survey public infrastructure damage in the other counties which were included in the gubernatorial proclamation of emergency for the winter storms. These teams will submit preliminary damage reports to the Washington Emergency Management Division, which will prepare recommendations to add other eligible counties to the federal disaster declaration.


A total of 37 counties are included in the governor's emergency proclamation. They 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.

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