PHOENIX - Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Oct. 16 that the federal government will assist parts of the state that suffered significant infrastructure damage in recent natural disasters.
This Federal Emergency Management Agency (grant program will defray 75% of the eligible costs of the emergency response, debris removal and permanent repairs to roads, bridges, public utilities and other public infrastructure in Island, Jefferson and Snohomish Counties. Those areas suffered significant damage in an Aug. 29 windstorm. President Obama approved the disaster zone declaration Friday, opening the way for the FEMA grant.
The winds that blew through the Pacific Northwest this summer were some of the worst on record, Inslee said in a statement announcing the federal assistance. “A considerable number of downed trees led to power outages, road closures and significant damage to our transportation and public utility infrastructure,” he said. “Local jurisdictions suffered more than $10 million in damages, with more than half of that in Snohomish County alone.”
Inslee said he is still hoping to receive assistance to help the eastern part of the state recover from a “disastrous” 2014 fire season.
