WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists in Spokane County and ordered federal assistance to supplement recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Gray Fire and the Oregon Road Fire in August 2023.
“The President’s Major Disaster Declaration is a critical step in helping Spokane County communities rebuild and it will support the recovery of the more than 1,000 displaced residents from last year’s devastating wildfires. While the approval of this declaration is key to helping these communities heal, this is another stark reminder of how slow federal assistance can be to arrive in the aftermath of a disaster. I will continue working with my colleagues on legislative changes to speed disaster recovery aid delivery to rural communities,” U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said.
“Today’s long overdue approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for Spokane County will be life-changing for those who lost everything to the Gray and Oregon Road Fires. It will unlock the financial resources and certainty they desperately need to begin rebuilding their homes and piecing their lives back together. I’m proud of the bipartisan efforts that went into getting this assistance approved, and I’m grateful the wait is finally over for our communities,” U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05) said.
“In the wake of the unparalleled devastation our region experienced last summer, burning more than 21,000 acres, and claiming hundreds of homes, today’s federal declaration from the Biden Administration is welcome news. I extend our sincere thanks to the federal delegation for their steadfast advocacy, including Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, and Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers and their staff. Their tireless support is appreciated, and I believe was key to unlocking this assistance,” said Mary Kuney, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners and representing District 4. Kuney continued, “This much-needed support will make a difference in helping the victims move forward with next steps.”
The disaster declaration makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Spokane County. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding is also available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in Spokane County. Finally, federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.
In October, Sen. Cantwell and Rep. McMorris Rodgers sent a letter to the Biden administration in support of Governor Jay Inslee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration following the Gray and Oregon Road fires. Last month, Sen. Cantwell and Rep. McMorris Rodgers sent another letter asking for an immediate update on the request.
In November, Rep. McMorris Rodgers introduced the Making Aid for Local Disasters Equal Now (MALDEN) Act, which would improve coordination between local, state, tribal, and federal agencies to deliver resources faster in the aftermath of disastrous wildfires. Last month, Sen. Cantwell and U.S. Senator James Risch (R-ID) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The MALDEN Act is named for the town of Malden, WA, which was destroyed by the 2020 Babb Road Fire.
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