For the Reporter

As local jurisdictions continue to recover from a powerful December storm that brought heavy rains, strong winds, and a tornado in Clark County, Gov. Jay Inslee today asked President Obama to approve his request for a Major Disaster Declaration to provide much needed assistance.

The winter storm, which hit Washington state Dec. 1-14, resulted in costs exceeding $19 million to help remove debris and repair roads and other public infrastructure.

In his letter to Obama, the governor asked for public assistance to help defray some costs associated with the storm in the following 17 counties: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Wahkiakum, and Yakima Counties.

Inslee this week also requested a Small Business Administration physical disaster declaration for Cowlitz County.

“Just as several counties were beginning the expensive process of recovering from a powerful November storm, Mother Nature took another swipe at us a month later,” Inslee said. “I’ve said it before – our budgets are maxed out. Yet we still need to provide critical services to our citizens – like reliable power and drivable roads and highways. I’m hopeful the president will recognize our need and approve this request.”

Heavy rainfall amounts exceeded 20 inches in parts of the Olympic Mountains, while some lowland areas received as much as 10 inches. Runoff from the heavy rainfall resulted in rivers exceeding flood stage on more than two dozen rivers across the state, while landslides made dozens of roads impassable, including I-5 in Cowlitz County.

The storm is also responsible for producing an EF1 tornado in Clark County, which damaged 36 homes and 2 commercial buildings.