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Stevens County emergency manager outlines flood impact, seeks 25 major-damage homes for SBA/FEMA aid
Summary
Stevens County emergency staff reported five recent disaster declarations and preliminary infrastructure damages estimated near $800,000; county leaders were urged to compile 25 homes with major damage to trigger SBA and FEMA assistance and to help residents access cleanup and mold-remediation resources.
Stevens County emergency-management staff reported to commissioners that the county has logged five emergency declarations since June 2 — one wind event and four flooding events — and is pursuing federal disaster assistance after a preliminary damages assessment (PDA) on June 24 produced a tally of $276,065 for that initial review and a broader public-infrastructure estimate near $800,000.
Donna, who presented the update to the board, said the county is preparing for a joint PDA with Homeland Security at the Emergency Operations Center at 10 a.m., and is trying to identify at least 25 homes with “major damage,” a threshold she described as tied to a percentage of home value used by federal assessors. Donna said she has been assembling cleanup resources and outreach materials, posting a survey link on the county website and Facebook, and coordinating referrals to the Red Cross and Salvation Army for families who need immediate help.
Why this matters: Hitting the federal threshold of severely damaged residences can unlock low-interest SBA loans and FEMA individual and public-assistance programs. Donna told the board she is working with local assessors and partners to document addresses and damage so county leaders can request additional assistance from the governor and federal partners.
Donna told the commissioners there are concerns about mold and basement safety after several properties reported deep standing water. She described outreach steps: distribution of 50-plus cleanup kits, outreach by email/text/mail, and a public mailing with environmental-cleanup contact information and next steps for renters who cannot secure landlord cooperation.
A county commissioner asked whether private homes and businesses are eligible; Donna said businesses can be included in the SBA assessment if they meet the damage threshold and urged anyone with substantial damage to complete the county survey link so staff can compile addresses for the PDA visit. Donna said the county will also document public-infrastructure damage (highway corridors, power poles) that may qualify for public assistance grants.
Next steps: County staff said they will complete the PDA with Homeland Security, document eligible homes and infrastructure, and — if the threshold is met — county leadership will sign a letter to the governor requesting assistance. Donna said the county will follow up at the next board meeting with outcomes from the PDA and any steps to access SBA or FEMA programs.
