Governor Gregoire Announces Emergency State Assistance for Storm Victims

For Immediate Release: December 8, 2007

Expanded disaster declaration request approved

OLYMPIA – Governor Chris Gregoire today announced $300,000 in emergency assistance from the Governor’s emergency fund to assist people affected by the recent storm.

The Governor is providing the funds to assist families with their basic needs while the state awaits an emergency declaration from the federal government to provide individual assistance funds.

“People who have been flooded out of their homes or who continue to live without power need help right now to meet their basic needs,” said Gov. Gregoire. “We are anxious to hear from the federal government about our request for individual assistance funds, but in the meantime, I want our residents to have the food, shelter, medical care and transportation they need.”

The Governor’s emergency funds will be available until the federal government approves the state’s request for federal individual assistance. Once the federal government acts, funds will become available to provide residents the essentials they need.

Residents of the affected counties wanting information or needing to apply for assistance should call the Department of Social and Health Services for help at 1-877-980-9180. Residents may also visit their local DSHS community services office beginning Monday, Dec. 10.

The Governor also announced that her amended request to the federal government for public assistance, which added Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties to her previous request, has been approved. These funds are for public assistance activities such as debris removal and other government related emergency activities.

“The state still needs White House approval for individual assistance, which provides financial assistance directly to disaster victims,” said Gov. Gregoire. “Our people need to come first.”

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