Governor requests disaster status

Gov. Chris Gregoire asked President Bush on Tuesday to declare parts of Washington state a federal disaster area, requesting that people in 11 counties become eligible for federal help following flooding this month.

The request – based on a damage survey done last week – covers Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, King, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston and Wahkiakum counties. Gregoire said additional counties may be added as officials continue assessing the damage.

The White House directed inquiries on the request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The preliminary surveys found that in those 11 counties, 104 homes were destroyed, 206 homes sustained major damage and 572 homes received minor damage. These homes were ones that either were uninsured or had inadequate insurance, said Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, head of Washington’s Emergency Management Division. The state has not yet compiled numbers on damaged homes that were insured.

Roseburg, Ore.

Crash kills student; another missing

An Oregon State University student died and another was missing after their vehicle veered off a highway and into the North Umpqua River, the Oregon State Police said Tuesday.

Crews recovered the body of Quinn Do Truong, 20, of Tigard, and searched for Jeffrey Schmidt, 22, of Medford. The two had attended a fraternity-sorority function at Diamond Lake Lodge over the weekend, and the Jeep Wrangler they were last spotted in was found in the river 32 miles west of Diamond Lake, OSP Lt. Gregg Hastings said. Truong’s body was found inside the vehicle.

Compiled from wire reports