NORTH SOUND, APRIL 16: Remember that windstorm last November the week before Thanksgiving nicknamed the ‘Bomb Cyclone’? With strong winds blowing out of the Cascade Mountain gaps producing wind gusts up to 70 mph, the storm blew down hundreds of trees, knocked power out to 660,000 customers, and killed two women.
Remember all the damage reports to the Snohomish County emergency management office along with many other Puget Sound counties so the state could ask that a federal disaster could be declared? A total of an estimated $34 million in damage was in that request for disaster relief.
Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a news release Monday the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied that request for disaster relief. The letter from FEMA was addressed to former Governor Jay Inslee who requested the disaster relief aid in early January. The letter included no explanation for the denial, only saying the assistance “is not warranted”.
Ferguson responded in a statement, “There are very clear criteria to qualify for these emergency relief funds. Washington’s application met all of them. This is another troubling example of the federal government withholding funding. Washington communities have been waiting for months for the resources they need to fully recover from last winter’s devastating storms, and this decision will cause further delay. We will appeal.”
Nine counties were included in the application for federal disaster assistance including Snohomish County. The other counties were Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, King, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, and Whatcom. Later in January, Governor Ferguson expanded the request to include Chelan and Jefferson counties after more damage became known.
FEMA Public Assistance program reimburses at least 75% of eligible costs related to a declared disaster. The Washington state application for federal disaster relief included funds for public highways, public utilities and electric power systems.
Washington State Military Department spokesperson Karina Shagren said, “This is the first time in recent memory that Washington’s request for public assistance was denied after a disaster.”
Washington State has 30 days to appeal this denial for federal disaster assistance. The preliminary damage estimate of $34 million will likely increase as the state works with counties to update their information for an appeal. This is an ongoing story.
