Washington Disaster News

       Emergency Public Information from the Washington Emergency Management Division

News Releases

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  "Safety Net" Grant Program May Help Disaster Applicants (173.57 KB)
  
  January 23, 2008 DR-1734-WA-052 Joint Information Center Media Contact: FEMA/State News Desk: 360-486-5745 SBA News Desk 916-847-2470 “SAFETY NET” GRANT PROGRAM MAY HELP DISASTER APPLICANTS Lacey, Wash. – If disaster applicants are turned down for a low-interest loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) there may still be a grant program that serves as a “safety net” that may provide additional grant funds, according to state and federal disaster officials. (More details about the Other Needs Assistance Program in web site story)
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  Disaster Assistance Is Still Available (179.2 KB)
  
  January 22, 2008 DR-1734-WA-050 Joint Information Center Media Contact: FEMA/State News Desk: 360-486-5745 SBA News Desk 916-847-2470 DISASTER ASSISTANCE IS STILL AVAILABLE Lacey, Wash. – Disaster assistance is still available for individuals who suffered damages in the severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides of Dec. 1-17, according to federal and state disaster recovery officials. More than 200 disaster workers are still hard at work trying to provide disaster assistance to everyone who qualifies. Read the complete press release on the Disaster News website.
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  DNR to Coordinate Woody Debris Removal (33.28 KB)
  
  NEWS RELEASE No. 08-009 January 17, 2008 Contact: Patty Henson, 360-902-1023; patricia.henson@dnr.wa.gov DNR to Coordinate Woody Debris Removal for Storm Recovery No-cost removal service available for farms affected by December flooding OLYMPIA - Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland announced today that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will coordinate removal of woody debris in the upper Chehalis River Valley and surrounding locations where early December flooding deposited this material on farmlands. Removal services would be available at no cost to farmers who request the agency's assistance and authorize access to their land. DNR is coordinating the woody debris removal effort with the state's other natural resources agencies, the State Military Department Emergency Management Division, and local governments in the affected counties.
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  Disaster Centers Closed Monday (175.1 KB)
  
  January 17, 2008 DR-1734-WA-048 Joint Information Center Media Contact: FEMA/State News Desk: 360-486-5745 SBA News Desk 916-847-2470 DISASTER CENTERS CLOSED ON MONDAY Lacey, Wash. – Federal and state officials announced today that in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) and U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) will be closed on Monday, January 21. All centers will reopen at the regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, January 22. The DRCs are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. until further notice. DRCs in the designated counties serve those affected by the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that began Dec. 1. The two DRCs are found at the following locations: Grays Harbor County DRC Aberdeen Community Center (lower level) 117 E. 3rd Street Aberdeen, WA 98520 Lewis County DRC Yard Birds Mall, 2nd floor 2100 N. National Ave. Chehalis, WA 98532
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  February 7 Is Registration Deadline for Flood Disaster Aid (178.18 KB)
  
  January 16, 2008 DR-1734-WA-045 Joint Information Center Media Contact: FEMA/State News Desk: 360-486-5745 SBA News Desk 916-847-2470 FEBRUARY 7 DEADLINE FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE Lacey, Wash. – Officials with the Washington Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have announced that the deadline for Washington residents affected by the severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides between December 1 to 17 to register for federal/state disaster assistance is February 7. The deadline is set for 60 days after the declaration, which was December 8th. Assistance can continue beyond this date, but this is the last day to call in or go on line to register. Residents in the 10 counties eligible for Individual Assistance who suffered damage from the storms are urged to call the toll-free registration number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) as soon as possible. The TTY number for residents with special speech or hearing needs is TTY 1-800-462-7585. Hours of operation for registering with FEMA are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Residents can also register online at www.fema.gov. Counties eligible for Individual Assistance are Clallam, Grays Harbor, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Snohomish, Thurston and Wahkiakum. Disaster Recovery Efforts to Date • More than $28.4 million in assistance and low-interest loans has already has been approved by FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). • 9,338 individuals and households from the 10 designated counties have applied for assistance. • More than $14.4 million ($14,440,462) in Housing Assistance has been approved for rental assistance, temporary lodging and housing repairs. • More than $1.5 million ($1,539,363) in Other Needs Assistance (ONA) has been approved to cover personal property loss, medical costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance. • 637 rental referrals have been made from the Housing Resource Helpline. -more- More than $15 million in Disaster Aid and Loans – p.2 • 4,469 visits have been made to the Disaster Recovery Centers in the designated counties to meet with recovery experts. • 6,136 home inspections have been completed. • The SBA has approved more than $12.4 million ($12,451,500) in low-interest disaster loans to Washington residents and businesses. The SBA provides low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, private non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes. Advice for Aid Applicants Disaster assistance is not designed to replace everything that was lost. It cannot make people whole again. However, if you have applied to FEMA for assistance and have questions about the determination, call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-621-3362). Helpline operators can tell you what you need to send to FEMA to update your information. Applicants have the right to appeal the decision. For example, if an applicant has insurance, the insurance company must settle before certain types of disaster assistance can be considered. As soon as you have your insurance determination, you can mail or fax a copy to be considered for further aid. The denial letter from FEMA has instructions for responding once you have your settlement information. You can also call the Helpline for instructions. If you were sent an application for an SBA loan, fill it out and send it in. If your application is turned down by SBA, you may be eligible for further assistance. Anyone with questions about an SBA loan or who needs help with the application should call 1-800-659-2955 for SBA assistance or visit the website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. # # # Editors: for more information on the Washington disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.wadisasternews.com.
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  Disaster Recovery Center to Close in Wahkiakum County (170.5 KB)
  
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  SBA Centers Close Thursday in King, Snohomish Counties (171.52 KB)
  
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  Disaster Loan Office Opens in Raymond (170.5 KB)
  
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  Public Assistance Teams Help Repair Local Infrastructure (164.35 KB)
  
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  Disaster Loan Center Opens in Pacific County (175.1 KB)
  
  January 12, 2008 DR-1734-WA-038 Joint Information Center Media Contact: FEMA/State News Desk: 360-486-5745 SBA News Desk 916-847-2470 SBA OUTREACH CENTER OPENS IN PACIFIC COUNTY Lacey, Wash. – Federal and state disaster officials announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) on Monday, January 14, at 9:00 a.m. The DLOC will be located at: Pacific County DLOC Bank of the Pacific 1007 S. Pacific Hwy. Long Beach, WA 98631 The DLOC will be open Monday through Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until further notice. At the DLOC, SBA representatives will provide individuals and business owners with face-to-face service in completing their loan applications, answering questions about SBA’s loan program, and explaining how an SBA disaster loan can help pay for their disaster losses. Low interest disaster loans from SBA are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non-profit organizations. Disaster loans from SBA are the primary source of funds for repairing and rebuilding disaster damaged private property. Informational materials are also available at the DLOCs on Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Individual and Household Program and the Hazard Mitigation Program. FEMA assistance is still only a toll-free call away: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. The lines are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Anyone with questions about an SBA loan but unable to visit a DLOC should call 1-800-659-2955 for SBA assistance or visit the website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. -more- DLOC Opens in Pacific Co. p. 2 SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. # # # Editors: for more information on the Washington disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.wadisasternews.com.