Claim Losses From Weather Due May 2 New Deadline Applies To Property Damaged By Snow, Floods Between Dec. 26 And Feb. 10

Washington residents have until May 2 to request money to help recover from severe winter weather.

The new deadline is for people whose property was damaged between Dec. 26 and Feb. 10, officials for the Federal Emergency Management Agency said. The agency originally had requested those claims by March 31.

Eastern Washington was hit with heavy snow and flooding in that period. Other parts of the state also were battered.

The money is available to residents of any county, “except for Wahkiakum (in southwestern Washington), which insists they have no damage,” said FEMA spokesman Marvin Carlson.

Damage caused by November’s ice storm is not covered by FEMA. Spokane city and county officials are still tallying damages to determine whether the region will qualify for disaster relief for the March floods.

Expenses that might be covered include damage to businesses or homes that aren’t covered by insurance, said Carlson. He suggested homeowners check their roofs for structural damage caused by heavy snow.

In addition, Carlson said, FEMA may help cover the cost of repairing cars damaged by the weather if the vehicles are required for work. The agency may also pay for motel rooms if damage forced people from their homes, or unemployment benefits for people who could not get to work.

To file a claim, call (800) 462-9029.

Carlson said FEMA has received financial requests from 360 Spokane County residents. So far, 120 of them have received $164,634. That’s an average of $1,372.

Statewide, the agency has given $6.2 million to 3,599 people.

To help determine whether the region will qualify for more disaster-relief money, local officials are asking city and county residents to report their losses from the March floods to the Spokane Department of Emergency Services.

Helpful information includes the type of property; the names, addresses and phone numbers of owners and residents; an estimate of the dollar loss; and whether the property is habitable.

Mail the information to: Spokane Department of Emergency Management, 1121 W. Gardner, Spokane, WA 99201-2072.

The agency also asks owners to save the receipts from any flood-related repairs.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: HELP To file a claim with FEMA to cover storm damage, call (800) 462-9029.