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State opens Disaster Unemployment Assistance applications after December floods; Nippon plant response ongoing
Summary
ESD said it accepted Disaster Unemployment Assistance applications May 5–June 10 after an April 7 federal disaster declaration for December flooding; as of June 13 ESD had received 35 applications (10 approved) and had not yet disbursed FEMA funds. Separately, the agency described local support and employer callback plans after a late‑May accident at Nippon's Longview plant.
The Employment Security Department updated advisory committee members on Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) tied to the December flooding and on local workforce response to a late‑May accident at the Nippon plant in Longview.
Steve Froggles, the agency’s UI business products manager, said a federal disaster declaration was issued April 7 and ESD began taking DUA applications on May 5; the application window closed June 10. The assistance period for eligible individuals runs from December 2025 through October 2026 and can provide up to 44 payable weeks.
"As of June 13, we have received 35 applications of which 10 have been approved and 8 have been withdrawn or disapproved," Froggles said. He added that ESD had not yet received FEMA funds and therefore had not disbursed assistance payments to approved applicants.
Froggles described near‑term local outreach: workforce and WorkSource staff joined 16 disaster assistance centers along the I‑5 corridor, and the agency set up a dedicated phone line for affected residents. On the Nippon plant accident, Froggles said the employer told staff it would continue paying employees through at least Aug. 8 and planned callbacks for shifts as operations resume; ESD staff supported a family‑assistance event in Kelso.
Committee members clarified which local partners were involved; staff agreed to follow up on whether the local workforce development board or economic development council led particular aspects of the response.
What happens next: ESD will continue outreach to approved applicants, await FEMA disbursement guidance and coordinate with local workforce partners and the employer on callbacks and any additional support.
