President declares flooding disaster

President Bush declared a federal disaster Saturday for flooding in Washington and Oregon, clearing the way for federal recovery aid to the states as well as local governments – but not residents – in the hardest-hit areas.

Bush’s declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse six southwestern Washington counties – Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston – at least 75 percent of debris-removal costs, and up to 75 percent of emergency measures.

In northwestern Oregon, the declaration provides recovery assistance to the public entities of Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, Tillamook and Yamhill counties.

FEMA spokeswoman Debbie Wing said more types of assistance could be granted and more counties from both states could be covered as floodwaters recede and officials get a better look at the damage.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire welcomed the news but said the aid falls short of what she requested: federal money to help people get back on their feet following violent storms and widespread flooding that struck Western Washington beginning Dec. 1. She announced that she would issue $300,000 in emergency state funding for that purpose.

“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,” Gregoire said. “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.”

Gregoire also announced that the state would become the lead sponsor of an Army Corps of Engineers project to protect Lewis County – including a flood-prone section of Interstate 5 – from future inundation. A 20-mile section of I-5, the region’s main north-south route, finally reopened Friday after being covered by up to 10 feet of water for much of the week; it was the third time in the past 17 years that flooding submerged I-5 south of Olympia.

Gregoire spent Saturday touring the devastation by helicopter with Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell; Rep. Norm Dicks; and U.S. Transportation Department officials. As they touched down at the W.F. West High School in Chehalis – which has doubled as a shelter this week – the Transportation Department announced an immediate $1 million for repairs or cleanup needs.

The money could be put toward the flood-protection measures for I-5, Murray’s office said.

The governor said she would ask the Legislature for authority to issue $50 million in dedicated general obligation bonds for the state’s portion of the Lewis County project. Federal funding has been authorized by Congress.

The Legislature allocated $30 million in 2003 for a plan to build levees along the corridor and expand the Skookumchuck River dam so it could better protect the region, but the project stalled when key players, including Lewis County, withdrew support and the cities of Centralia and Chehalis resisted the potential obligation to cover maintenance costs. The state diverted most of the money to other road projects.

Storms beginning on Dec. 1 cut electric power, destroyed buildings and caused widespread flooding. Six deaths were blamed on the disaster: four people in southwestern Washington and a pair of hikers in the Cascade Mountains. At least one person was missing, but police in rural Winlock considered their search for the man a recovery mission, not a rescue.

In Oregon, many communities got their electricity back on Saturday and most major highways are open.