Gov. Chris Gregoire has asked President Obama to declare a federal disaster area in 11 Washington counties for damages and emergency response costs suffered during January\u2019s severe winter storm.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Kent has requested through King County for as much as $280,000 in reimbursement from the federal government. That includes about $100,000 to replace the damaged net at the Riverbend Golf Complex driving range.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe snow and ice that hit our state last month left widespread damage to public utility systems and roads,\u201d Gregoire said in a Feb. 24 media release. \u201cIt also placed a heavy financial burden on local jurisdictions for debris removal and emergency response at a time when the state, cities and counties face shrinking operational budgets. I\u2019m hopeful we get the financial help necessary to quickly recover from the January storm.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Preliminary state and federal damage assessments found an estimated $32.3 million in potential eligible damage across the state caused by snow, freezing rain, power outages, rain, fallen trees and limbs, avalanches, falling ice, landslides and storm debris.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Gregoire\u2019s request seeks federal disaster aid for public facility damage in 11 counties \u2014 Clallam, Grays Harbor, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston and Wahkiakum.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n