FEMA to ruleon flood relief

The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) should soon decide whether or not Wahkiakum County residents will be eligible for federal disaster relief funds for the December 2 and 3 storm.

County officials toured the county with FEMA officials this past week to sample damage to property and to plan local relief operations, if necessary.

The agency has already ruled that public, governmental agencies in the county are eligible for disaster relief. Undersheriff Jon Dearmore said Tuesday the agency could rule any day on eligibility for individuals.

That ruling would set in motion a two-week registration period in which FEMA would have a disaster recovery center in the River Street Building Meeting Room, which also serves as the county's emergency operations center. The Eagle will post a notice on its website, http://www.waheagle.com, as soon as an announcement comes from FEMA, and Dearmore said the county would post it on the Wahkiakum County website, too.

Dearmore, who with officers Joannie Bjorge and Janell Kerstetter have taken over the running of the county emergency management, said citizens who have had wind or flooding damage should try to file on FEMA's website or by telephoning the agency.

That recommendation, which came from the office of Governor Chris Gregoire, counters an earlier announcement from FEMA, Dearmore said.

That website is http://www.fema.gov; the phone number is 1-800-621-3362.

By filing, individuals will get a head start and be ready if and when FEMA opens a center in Cathlamet.

County Public Works Director Pete Ringen said he has received initial confirmation from FEMA and Federal Highway Administration officials that some road and bridge repairs will be covered by federal disaster programs. Other projects are yet to be evaluated or approved.

Damage to public facilities, which include county roads and bridges and the Western Wahkiakum Water System and Wahkiakum PUD, totals over $1 million, Ringen said.

FEMA announced the following deadlines for assistance application and registration:

* January 7: Requests for public agency assistance for first six counties, Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston;

* January 18: Requests for public agency assistance for second six counties, Clallam, Jefferson, King, Skagit, Snohomish, Wahkiakum;

* January 22: Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) applications;

* February 7: Individuals and Households Program (IHP) registration;

* February 7: Small Business Administration (SBA) applications for physical damage;

* February 29: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Letters of Intent due to EMD, and

* September 9: SBA Economic Injury applications.

The agency added that the deadlines are subject to change.

Information from FEMA also said a private road or bridge may be covered under the FEMA Housing program if:

1. Private road or bridge is the only way to access the owners home (primary residence);

2. Private road or bridge is damaged to the point that the owner of the home cannot gain access to the house.