Local News

FEMA rejects Wash. appeal for wildfire victim aid

Associated Press


Sep 23, 2014

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has once again denied a Washington state request for aid to individuals affected by this summer's wildfires in Okanogan County and on the Colville Reservation.

Gov. Jay Inslee says he learned Tuesday evening that FEMA has denied the state's appeal of the federal agency's initial decision. He calls the rejection "unfortunate" but says the state will do its best to help the affected communities recover.

In a terse, three-paragraph letter, FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate said the impact to individuals and homeowners "was not of the severity and magnitude to warrant" individual assistance. More than 300 homes were destroyed by the north-central Washington wildfires.

FEMA did earlier approve Inslee's request for public assistance that will help the county and tribal governments pay for repair of infrastructure damaged in the fires.

 


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