Disaster relief center opened

The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) declared January 9 that Wahkiakum County residents will be eligible for federal disaster relief funds for the December wind storm and flooding.

Officials from FEMA and the US Small Business Administration opened a disaster recovery center in the River Street Building in Cathlamet to help people register for disaster assistance.

The center will close at the end of the business day this Friday, Ed Edahl, a FEMA public information officer, said Tuesday.

"They basically feel they've seen all the people in the county who need assistance," he said.

The agency has already ruled that public, governmental agencies in the county are eligible for disaster relief from FEMA or the SBA.

Throughout the region affected by the storm and flooding, the agencies have had requests for assistance totalling over $26.7 million, Edahl said.