Washington residents need wildfire disaster assistance now, says McMorris Rodgers

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) made a bipartisan, bicameral request of President Joe Biden seeking an update on when her Washington State constituents can expect federal assistance for wildfires that wreaked havoc in Spokane County, Wash., in August 2023.

Rep. McMorris Rodgers and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) want to know the status of a Major Disaster Declaration for the Gray and Oregon Road fires made on Oct. 4, 2023, by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, according to a Jan. 22 letter the lawmakers sent to Biden.

“Now, 110 days later, those that were impacted by the fires are still patiently awaiting a response as to whether they can expect federal resources to aid in their recovery efforts,” wrote Rep. McMorris Rodgers and her colleague. “It is imperative to the survivors and the larger Spokane County community that they have this information to move forward and rebuild.”

The Oregon and Gray Road fires burned more than 22,484 acres and destroyed over 710 structures, including 366 homes, which are more homes destroyed than in any other fire in Washington State history, according to their letter. 

More than 1,000 residents have been displaced during the emergency, with many still lacking permanent housing, wrote the lawmakers. 

“Spokane County determined that critical recovery and infrastructure projects associated with the Oregon and Gray Road fires will cost the city approximately $63 million,” they wrote. “In addition, many survivors are uninsured or underinsured and are still struggling to rebuild their homes.”

Rep. McMorris Rodgers and her colleague noted that federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance program would help tremendously with defraying costs for these projects.

“The community needs to begin to rebuild and mitigate against future disasters now,” they wrote. “We strongly urge you to approve the Major Disaster Declaration request to ensure Spokane County, and specifically the Medical Lake and Elk communities, can access the federal resources they urgently need to continue to respond to this tragedy.”