President Barack Obama declared the state of Washington a major disaster zone Friday, citing large-scale flooding and windstorms that occurred earlier this month.
That means counties, organizations and residents will be eligible for federal funding to aid with the costly cleanup, estimated earlier this month to be in the $125 million range. Federal assistance will supplement state and county efforts already under way.
The declaration, announced by the Office of the White House Press Secretary Friday afternoon, came weeks after harsh weather wreaked havoc over several Western Washington counties, closing Interstate 5 for days and putting some small towns underwater.
Federal aid will be extended to King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston and Wahkiakum counties.
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