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HELP FOR FLOOD VICTIMS!
We've divided this page into two. Section I is How
to Help, Section II is How to Get Help.
See our Community Events
section for flood-relief benefits.
For those who want to give, cash works best. Please
note: If you wish your donated funds to be used to specifically in local
communities impacted by the Dec. 2-3, 2007 storm and flooding, indicate
that on your check.
Cash Donations - Grays Harbor County
Anchor Bank, 360-532-6312
Coastal Community Action, 360-533-5100
Cash Donations - Lewis County
United Way of Lewis County, contact Community Resource Coordinator
Linda Raschke at admin@lewiscountyuw.com.
Cash Donations - Pacific County
Hands Extended, ask for Corran at 360-942-5331
Salvation Army, ask for Captain-in-Charge at 360-533-1062
Cash Donations - Thurston County
Rochester Organization of Family Community Services, PO Box 312, Rochester,
WA 98579
South Thurston United Friends, 18214 Corvallis St. SW, Rochester, WA 98579
Non-profit organizations
Washington Interfaith Disaster Recovery Organization c/o Associated
Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County, 1224 So. "I" Street, Tacoma,
WA 98405 360-710-7248 www.widro.org
Salvation Army
P.O. Box 9219, Seattle, WA 98109 1-800-SAL-ARMY www.salvationarmynw.org
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Internet users can
make a secure site-specific online donation by visiting www.redcross.org.
You may also call 1-800-RED-CROSS
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Help 4 Hard Times Youth and Family Services Center is open Wednesdays & Thursdays noon-8pm and Saturdays noon-6pm. The center, 249 NW Chehalis Ave, Chehalis, provides furniture, appliances, clothing, and building materials to flood victims. Volunteers are needed to work at the Help 4 Hard Times Youth & Family Service Center. Members of the public can call (360) 508- 4356 to talk to a volunteer coordinator.
Monthly commitments of $25 a month are needed to keep the center open. Corporate and business partnerships are welcomed.Donations of useful and clean household items in good repair are needed.Cash donations and gift cards are also needed.
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UPDATED 12/31: A Farm Relief Fund has been set up for the 14 Olympia Farmers Market farmers who lost farmland, animals, and equipment in the flooding. Donations are being taken at Heritage Bank and online at www.olympiafarmersmarket.com.
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An account has been set up by the local 4-H council to assist Lewis County 4-H families who were affected by the flood. The account has been opened at the Washington State Employees Credit Union. The name of the account is: Lewis County 4-H Flood Relief.
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Pacific County 4-H Leaders’ Council and Horse Project Leaders’ are accepting donations to help. Funds can be sent to the Pacific County WSU Extension Office, PO Box 88 South Bend WA 95586 with checks made out to Pacific County 4-H or Pacific County Horse 4-H.
Help 4 Hard Times Youth and Family Services Center is open Wednesdays & Thursdays noon-8pm and Saturdays noon-6pm. The center, 249 NW Chehalis Ave, Chehalis, provides furniture, appliances, clothing, and building materials to flood victims. Volunteers are needed to work at the Help 4 Hard Times Youth & Family Service Center. Members of the public can call (360) 508- 4356 to talk to a volunteer coordinator.
Monthly commitments of $25 a month are needed to keep the center open. Corporate and business partnerships are welcomed. Donations of useful and clean household items in good repair are needed. Cash donations and gift cards are also needed.
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Disaster Outreach Services, a DSHS program aimed to provide emotional support, information, and service referrals to those affected by the December disasters, provides 24-hour help through a toll-free number, 1-800-850-8775.
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A state hotline and email address assists December flood survivors whose essential needs have not been met through federal disaster assistance programs. The state's Disaster Unmet Needs Hotline is (253) 507-6420. The email address is unmetneeds@emd.wa.gov
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Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans are available to Washington residents and businesses. Loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners and businesses & non-profit groups may borrow up to $1.5 million for repairs or replacement of damaged property. SBA is also offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Application deadline is September 9, 2008. You may call the SBA customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 or visit their website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance
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MITIGATION SPECIALISTS OFFER RE-BUILDING ADVICE:
Mitigation techniques are ways to minimize damage when a home or business
property is struck by flooding, high winds or other natural disaster.
Whether building a new structure or re-building after a disaster, there
are construction methods that are safer, stronger, and smarter in the
face of extreme weather conditions.Mitigation advice
is available on-line at the following sites: www.fema.gov,
www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/coping.shtm,
www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp
and www.wadisasternews.com.
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USDA Rural Development can help finance repairs to homes. They offer 1% interest loans for up to 20 years, and, if the homeowner is over the age of 62, they could qualify for a grant up to $7,500. Call Debbie Harper at (360) 704-7760.
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CONCERN NOTED 1/28/08 FROM FEMA: "If people are rebuilding or repairing within a flood plain, they must check with their county first to make sure they are taking care of all applicable permits. This will save them lots of headaches later."
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Property tax relief is available
to the owners of properties damaged or destroyed by recent flooding and
windstorms. Property owners can apply to county assessors to reduce the
taxable value of affected properties. Relief could include a partial refund
of taxes paid in 2007 and a reduction of future taxes until the property
is restored. Applications are available at the offices of county assessors
or online at http://dor.wa.gov/Docs/forms/PropTx/Forms/TaxpClaimReducAssmtDestryRealPersProp_E.doc
. The forms should be submitted to county assessors.