By Dan SchreiberPresident Barack Obama declared a state of disaster Friday for Lewis, Thurston and six other Washington counties, following flooding and mudslides earlier this month.The declaration applies only to private property damage and makes residents and business owners eligible for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency."FEMA has decided to open the first disaster recovery center at Yard Birds Mall to aid citizens in West Lewis County completing the application process," said a press release from the Lewis County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Department. "A second disaster recovery center at the Lyle Building in Morton will be opened in a few weeks to aid the East Lewis County citizens."At $22.1 million in total private and public losses, damage estimates have continued to rise throughout the month, according to an assessment released by Lewis County Friday.The $22.1 million is comprised of $12.8 million in damage to residences and businesses and $9.3 million to public infrastructure, according to the assessment.Lewis County officials say the current damage total might account for only 25 to 35 percent of the total damage. The county has advised residents to press on with repairs, and document everything.Lewis County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Deputy Director Ross McDowell said the most important thing for residents with damage to do is call FEMA as soon as possible with all their personal information and get a claim number."It's not an overly difficult process but it is a little time consuming," McDowell said.The declaration includes language about flooding, as well as mudslides, which accounted for most of the damage in East County."That's good, because there is no insurance for mudslides out there at all," McDowell said.For businesses, Small Business Administration loans will be available through FEMA programs."Businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets," said a press release from SBA, which added that interest rates for businesses can be as low as 4 percent with terms up to 30 years.McDowell said FEMA will set a cutoff date where agents stop taking information. Although that date hasn't yet been set, people should act sooner than later."We don't want people to wait around, but that doesn't mean FEMA is going to be out there right away," McDowell said, adding that people should not wait any longer to clean up what they can. "Do good documentation with photographs. Have a neighbor come in to verify the damage, preferably a non-relative. They do not cover mold or any other secondary damage."A maximum assistance grant figure has yet to be set by FEMA. In the record December 2007 flood, the individual assistance grants topped out at $28,800.On Jan. 21, Gov. Chris Gregoire has asked President Barack Obama to declare a federal disaster in nine counties hit by flooding, mudslides and avalanches."I applaud President Obama for expediting these requests, which helps Washingtonians in the affected counties begin the recovery and rebuilding process," Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a statement Friday.Members of the state congressional delegation sent a joint letter to Obama Jan. 22 urging him to quickly approve federal assistance, according to a release from the office of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.Lewis County families and businesses that received damages from the Jan. 7 flooding can begin the process to file claims for FEMA disaster assistance on Saturday. ------Dan Schreiber: (360) 807-8239Register for FEMA Aid:Online registration can be entered at www.fema.gov. The declaration number for this event is FEMA-1817-DR. The phone number for SBA is 1-800-659-2955.County Says Make Repairs Now:Report damage to Lewis County Emergency Management at 740-1152Contact your insurance carrier for coverage informationBefore making repairs, document the damage with photos and written statements from neighbors or other non-family membersInventory damaged property before throwing it outContact private nonprofit organizations for assistance with cleanup and reconstruction projects, if needed.Consider health and safety needs in the cleanup. Use precautions such as air particle masks or respirators and rubber gloves, even if working outside. Airborne dust particles and mold cannot be seen, but can cause health problems-- Source: Lewis County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency ManagementHistoric References:Event Homes/Businesses Public Facilities Combined Total2006 Cowlitz Flood $9.3 million $17.3 million $23.6 million2007 West County Flood $121.1 million $45 million $166.2 million2008 Snow/Ice Storm $916,000 $736,568 $1.7 million2009 Floods $12.8 million $9.3 million $22.1 million
