The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
45°F
Current Conditions
Scattered clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

North Idaho To Receive More Aid For Flood Relief

From Staff And Wire Reports

North Idaho will get another $1.5 million in federal aid to hire displaced workers to help with cleanup of flood damage, Gov. Phil Batt announced Friday.

“These funds will help provide temporary employment to those who have been put out of work by this disaster,” Batt said.

The aid, from the U.S. Department of Labor, comes on top of $500,000 announced Wednesday from the same department for extended unemployment benefits. Idaho also has secured $6 million in federal transportation funds in the past week to help with emergency road and bridge repairs.

In other flood-related news, a state highway from St. Maries to Rose Lake will be closed overnight Sunday so workers can repair a broken dike.

A 33-mile stretch of state Highway 3 will be closed from 6 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday for work on the dike, said Dan Hammes, a spokesman for Benewah County.

Batt said the latest batch of aid will employ displaced workers for cleanup, repair and construction on public and private non-profit property.

The jobs will last up to six months for workers unemployed as a direct result of the floods. Other dislocated workers or unemployed people may also be eligible for the jobs.

Workers may contact their local Job Service office to apply for the jobs.

Public agencies and non-profit groups in the disaster area that need labor also should contact Job Service for information about the program, Batt said.

Food stamps are now available for some of the flood victims in North Idaho.

Residents of specific areas qualify provided they fit certain income criteria and have suffered specific losses, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

In St. Maries people can apply at the federal building. Residents of the Rose Lake to Enaville region apply at the Washington Water Power building in Kellogg.

People in the Kendrick area apply at the Lewiston Health and Welfare office, the Orofino Health and Welfare office and the Kamiah Health and Welfare office.

In the Princeton-to-Moscow region, people should contact the Moscow Health and Welfare office. Eastport and Bonners Ferry residents should go to the Bonners Ferry Health and Welfare office.

People applying for the aid will need a driver’s license and Social Security numbers for every member of the household.

, DataTimes