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Inslee declares state of emergency in 9 counties following storm

By Rob Mackay
Published  January 7, 2015 5:29pm PST
Associated Press



OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed a state of emergency in nine Washington counties affected by this week's severe winter storm.

Inslee's action Wednesday will allow the state to seek emergency relief funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highways Administration to help pay for repairs.

The governor's office said the storm caused at least $3 million in damage and debris removal cost.

The emergency proclamation is for Grays Harbor, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Wahkiakum, and Whatcom counties.

Washington Emergency Managements estimates repairs just to Highway 4 at Naselle will cost about $1.7 million.

In the video below, you can see the damage on SR 4 just west of Naselle. The highway is closed between US 101 (milepost 0) and SR 401 (milepost 4) after a collapsed 10 foot culvert severely damaged the roadway, Monday, Jan. 5. WSDOT is working on establishing a short-term bypass, a permanent repair.