Gov. Inslee tours site of mudslide by air, asks for federal disaster declaration

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is asking President Barack Obama for a major disaster declaration in Snohomish County to make programs available to help individuals, households and businesses impacted by the massive Oso mudslide on March 22.

The request made Monday asks for access to disaster housing, disaster grants, disaster-related unemployment insurance and crisis counseling programs for those in Snohomish County and to the Stillaguamish, Sauk-Suiattle and Tulalip Indian tribes.

In the letter, the governor said that at least 25 homes were destroyed in the slide, each averaging about $165,000 and many of the owners didn’t have mortgage insurance.

In addition, the governor requested the U.S. Small Business Administration to make its disaster loan program available.

The request follows Inslee’s second tour of the Oso slide area by air, saying the scene looked considerably different from last week.

Inslee said Sunday during a news conference at the airport in Arlington that the operation at the debris site is “very, very extensive,” noting front-end loaders and other heavy equipment as well as hundreds of workers searching and building a corridor to link both sides.

It’s been grueling for professional and volunteer search effort, but Inslee said he’s thankful for volunteers, many of whom are not even from Washington.

“I was so heartened, I went to the Red Cross center just on the border between Arlington and Marysville, and saw a Red Cross operation that was about 75 or 80 percent there from other states. We are the recipients of a huge national effort, helping the people of the Stillaguamish Valley and we’re appreciative of that,” he said.

Inslee also said he’s heard from some of the professional rescue personal that this has been one of the greatest integrations of professional and volunteer efforts that they know of.

“They ought to be proud, the people of Darington, Oso, and Arlington.”

He said planning is just beginning for long-term housing needs and for re-establishing State Route 530 in the area between Darrington and Oso. Inslee says no specific plans exist yet, but that they will include extensive public comment, especially regarding the 530 corridor, adding that it will be done in a way that is sensitive to families who have lost loved ones in the slide.

Last week, a federal emergency declaration was approved, which provided a federal disaster team and specialized personnel including the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the slide area.

The declaration also allowed for some federal reimbursement for costs related to emergency protective measures and response.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.