FEMA’s Flooding Payout Totaled

By Keri Brenner, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.

Jan. 14–OLYMPIA — Thurston County residents who suffered damages from last month’s floods received $544,928 in Federal Emergency Management Agency aid, county staff said Monday.

Kathy Estes, emergency management coordinator, told county commissioners that the aid came in response to 267 requests filed by flood victims in Rochester and other areas hurt by flooding and mudslides.

Estes, speaking at the weekly county board meeting, said residents rejected by FEMA still should apply for federal Small Business Administration loan programs. The SBA application could open the door for new grants and loans, Estes said.

Also, people rejected by FEMA because they have homeowner’s insurance should send FEMA a copy of a letter from their insurance company denying benefits. Some insurance companies do not cover damage from floods or mudslides.

Although county flood-recovery efforts have slowed, the state is trying to coordinate a long-term recovery center for the lower Chehalis River region, Estes said.

In other business Monday, the commissioners:

–Gave approval for the prosecuting attorney’s office to apply for a $400,000, two-year federal grant to address domestic violence. If approved, the grant, from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women, would be used to develop a strategy to respond to domestic violence incidents and to create a central unit in the county to help victims of domestic violence.

Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim said six homicides last year were linked to domestic violence, including two murder-suicides.

–Voted to send a letter to the Thurston County Boundary Review Board saying they did not oppose a 360-acre annexation by Tenino. County planning staff said Tenino has adopted part of the county’s critical areas ordinance in order to protect prairie habitats, as requested by the county commissioners last year.

The annexation area contains 28 parcels and is located west of the city.

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