Residents, businesses should call FEMA directly to report earthquake damage

King County Executive Ron Sims' News Release

Issued: March 2, 2001, 8:15 a.m.
Updated: March 2, 2001, 1:00 p.m.

Residents, businesses should call FEMA directly to report earthquake damage

Individuals and businesses should now call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) directly to report earthquake-related damage. The hotline number is 1 (800) 462-9029 or TTY 1 (800) 462-7585. Persons who think they may be eligible for disaster assistance programs and would like to file a claim are directed to call that number between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time seven days a week. With the announcement last night that Western Washington was declared a Major Presidential Disaster Area, FEMA will begin offering assistance to victims of earthquake damage.

The King County Damage Hotline is now closed. Individuals are advised they will need to call the FEMA disaster assistance number even if they have already reported damage to King County’s Damage Hotline.

The King County Emergency Operations Center said that calls by homeowners and private businesses to the King County Damage Hotline were instrumental in the successful effort to have Western Washington declared a Major Presidential Disaster Area and qualify for disaster assistance.

FEMA disaster assistance programs include:

» Low-Interest Loans
» Cash Grants for Low Income Families That Qualify
» Housing Assistance
» Veterans Benefits
» Tax Refunds
» Excise Tax Relief
» Unemployment Benefits
» Crisis Counseling
» Free Legal Counseling

FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program is one way federal assistance gets to the state and local governments and to certain private nonprofit organizations. These grants allow them to respond to disasters, to recover from their impact and to mitigate impact from future disasters. While these grants are aimed at governments and organizations - their final goal is to help a community and all its citizens recover from devastating natural disasters.

For additional details, visit the FEMA Web site.

» For more King County information, go to www.metrokc.gov

» For regional news, go to www.govlink.org/news

Presidential Disaster Area Declaration

On Thursday, March 1, the day following the February 28 earthquake, King County Executive Ron Sims hosted an earthquake damage assessment tour for FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh and Washington State congressional delegation members highlighting damages sustained in King County. Within 3 hours of that visit, President George W. Bush declared King County as a Major Presidential Disaster Area, making federal disaster recovery funds available to people, business and governments who suffered earthquake damage.

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U.S. Senator Patty Murray and King County Executive Ron Sims at the damage assessment tour.

U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn (walking), and (seated to the right) U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott and U.S. Senator Patty Murray at the quake damage assessment press conference.

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U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn (walking), and (seated to the right) U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott and U.S. Senator Patty Murray at the quake damage assessment press conference.

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Eric Holdeman, manager of King County's Office of Emergency Management, briefs FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh and congressional delegation members at the quake assessment press conference.

Updated: March 2, 2001

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