Dec 8, 2007 7:11 pm US/Pacific
President Declares Disaster In Northwest
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) ―
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President Bush declared a federal disaster for 11 counties in the Pacific Northwest on Saturday.
AP
President Bush declared a federal disaster for 11 counties in the
Pacific Northwest on Saturday, clearing the way for federal aid after
severe storms ravaged parts of Oregon and Washington.
The declaration provides recovery assistance to five northwestern
Oregon and six southwestern Washington counties. It does not include
assistance for individuals.
The disaster declaration says the federal government will reimburse
75 percent of the public cost for disaster response in those designated
areas. It also creates a grant program that would provide federal money
to take steps to reduce damage from future disasters such as burying
utility lines.
FEMA spokeswoman Debbie Wing said more types of assistance could be
granted and more counties could be covered as floodwaters recede and
officials get a better look at the damage.
Oregon and Washington saw severe flooding, landslides and mudslides
as the result of storms that hit the coast Dec. 1-3. Eight deaths were
blamed on the disaster: two in Oregon and six in Washington, including
a pair of hikers in the Cascade Mountains.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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