PORT ANGELES — Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed a state of emergency for 28 counties recovering from severe winter weather, including Clallam and Jefferson.
The proclamation will help the state Department of Transportation make emergency repairs to roadways damaged in storms between Jan. 30 and Feb. 22 and request federal funding, according to Inslee’s office.
It also allows Inslee to potentially request other federal assistance pending the outcome of damage assessments in the affected counties.
Emergency management directors in Clallam and Jefferson counties said there was no reportable damage from the winter storms.
“We had no damages in Jefferson County,” said Lynn Sterbenz, the county’s emergency management director.
“We got no’s from everybody and reported back to the state.”
Sterbenz said she did not know why Jefferson County was listed in the proclamation.
Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Cameron, who heads the county’s emergency management division, said there had been no reports of damage that could be attributed to the storms.
“I’m not sure why we were in that [proclamation], other than we were in the same geographic area as some of the other places,” Cameron said.
State officials said the storms caused more than $10 million in damage to roadways.
“The colder, wetter and stormier weather this winter has heavily impacted many communities throughout the state,” Inslee said in a news release.
“The impacts have been significant, from snow removal and damage to public facilities to transportation interruptions and the opening of shelters to assist those whose power was out or their homes damaged.
“Staff from appropriate state agencies are working with local officials to quantify the impacts and damages so we can determine whether to request federal assistance.”
Claudia Bingham Baker, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman, said there was no storm-related damage to state highways in Clallam County.
“Nothing to report from Jefferson County, either, at least from a state highway perspective,” Bingham Baker said.
Olympic National Park closed Olympic Hot Springs Road at the Madison Falls trailhead Feb. 16 after heavy rain and snowmelt caused the Elwha River to flow across the federal road.
The state proclamation also covers Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, King, Kitsap, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom and Whitman counties.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
