OLYMPIA — If you are one of the home or business owners in Washington state who was counting on FEMA assistance to recover from damage caused during November’s “bomb cyclone” event, the agency said on Friday that Washington is out of luck.
Governor Bob Ferguson said on Monday he plans to appeal FEMA’s denial of our state’s application for federal disaster relief to assist with the estimated $34 million in damage from November’s storms.
Ferguson said in a statement that there are very clear criteria to qualify for these emergency relief funds, and that Washington’s application met all of them. He said Washington communities have been waiting for months for the resources they need to recover from last winter’s storms that caused widespread damage across multiple counties and claimed two lives. Former Governor Jay Inslee initially declared a disaster in nine counties, including Clallam County, but original damages listed here were not extensive enough to make the cut. Governor Ferguson expanded the declaration to include Clallam and Jefferson counties after the full extent of the damages became known.
Justine Chorley from Clallam County Emergency Management told KONP that the claims for damages here were primarily to some PUD and fire district infrastructure, as well as road and other public property damage.
Washington applied for federal disaster relief funds for FEMA in January to repair damage including to public highways, public utilities and electrical power systems. Three months later, FEMA responded on Friday denying the application without explanation.
Washington’s preliminary damage estimate is $34 million, but Ferguson’s office said that number will likely increase as the state works with counties to update their information for an appeal.
Washington has 30 days to submit its appeal.