SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Victims of the devastating wildfires that ripped through Spokane County last summer can now apply for federal recovery assistance.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden approved the state of Washington's disaster declaration and ordered federal funding become available for state, tribal and local recovery efforts. Starting now, residents and business owners impacted by the Gray Fire in Medical Lake or the Oregon Road Fire in Elk can apply for recovery assistance.
The wildfires sparked within hours of each other on Aug. 18, 2023. The fires combined left hundreds of people without homes, destroyed more than 21,000 acres of land in Eastern Washington and claimed the lives of two people.
In total, the Gray Fire destroyed 240 homes and the Oregon Road Fire destroyed 126 homes.
Months after the wildfires, local and state agencies have continued requesting federal funding for those impacted. After months of waiting, that assistance is now available.
Biden said federal funding can be dispersed in the form of grants for temporary housing and home repairs, loans to cover uninsured property loss and other recovery efforts. Funds will also be available to state, tribal and local governments as well as certain non-profits focused on emergency work in Spokane County.
Tony L. Raines with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will serve as the coordinator for recovery efforts in Spokane County. To apply for assistance, you can:
- Visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov
- Call 800-621-FEMA (3362)
- Use the FEMA app
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement on the President's declaration:
“The Gray and Oregon Road fires were absolutely devastating for families in Northern Spokane Country, hundreds of whom saw their homes and their land destroyed. I made clear in the immediate aftermath of those fires that I’d do everything I could to make sure these communities had the resources they needed to get through this and recover. Since then I’ve been pushing hard for this disaster declaration, including in a conversation with the White House just last week, because I know how critical this is to unlocking federal dollars and resources for people in Northern Spokane County to recover and rebuild. I want to thank the Biden Administration for always working closely with us to put the people of Washington state first—now I’ll be focused on making sure this federal assistance gets where it needs to go to really help the people who lost so much in these fires.”
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also released a statement on the funding:
“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.”
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) also released a statement:
“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."
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