News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 31, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke announces additional emergency relief for farmworker families

OLYMPIA – Gov. Gary Locke announced that he will provide additional emergency relief for farmworker families still struggling with the financial impacts of the late-June storm that damaged crops in orchards and farms in 13 Washington counties.

The governor today released $500,000 for community action agencies to help families affected by crop losses receive emergency food, shelter and other services. This is in addition to $250,000 that Locke earlier authorized to help farmworker families cope with crop damage.

“Because of the crop damage in Eastern Washington counties, farmworkers were not able to do the usual work they depend on to support their families,” Locke said. “Our agriculture industry depends on these workers to harvest our crops every year, and we owe it to them to make sure they don’t suffer undue hardship because of the late-June storm.”

The governor authorized the Washington Military Department to transfer $500,000 from its disaster response account to the Office of Community Development, which will distribute the funds through community agencies to help farmworker families meet basic needs such as emergency medical and dental services, food, shelter and transportation.

The funds will be distributed in those 13 counties included in the governors’ disaster declaration request to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman on July 6: Adams, Benton, Chelan, Clark, Columbia, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, King, Klickitat, Pierce, Walla Walla and Yakima.

“The storm only lasted a couple of days, but the extent of the crop damage has meant continuing hardship for farmworkers and their families,” said Busse Nutley, director of the Office of Community Development. “With this additional funding, we can help put them back on their feet again.”

Related Links:
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Locke requests disaster declarations for 13 Washington counties
- Washington State Office of Community Development
- Washington Military Department


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