Kent to get federal funds to help cover storm costs

The city of Kent will get reimbursement funds from the federal government to help cover $280,000 in storm costs in January.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced  Monday that federal aid has been made available for the state of Washington to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm, flooding, landslides and mudslides during the period of January 14-23, according to the FEMA website.

President Obama declared the state a disaster area to allow federal funds to be released.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in the counties of Clallam, Grays Harbor, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston and Wahkiakum.

Michael L. Karl has been named Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Karl said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Gov. Chris Gregoire had asked President Obama Feb. 24 to declare a federal disaster area in 11 Washington counties for damages and emergency response costs suffered during January’s severe winter storm.

Kent’s request includes about $100,000 to replace the damaged net at the Riverbend Golf Complex driving range.

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.

The FEMA public assistance grants will defray 75 percent of the eligible disaster-related costs, such as repair or replacement of property, debris removal and emergency protective measures.