President Trump Approves Washington State Disaster Declaration

SEATTLE, WA — President Donald Trump on Sunday approved a request by Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a major disaster in Washington state, freeing up some federal resources to fight the state's growing coronavirus outbreak.

Trump's disaster declaration opens up federal funding for crisis counseling for Washington residents affected by COVID-19, according to a White House announcement. It stops short, however, of funding unemployment and food benefits for Washington residents, which Gov. Jay Inslee asked for in a letter to Trump on Friday.

In Inslee's 74-page letter requesting the declaration, Inslee said it could unlock a host of federal programs for Washington residents, including disaster legal services to help residents negotiate with landlords and insurance companies, and FEMA crews to help people whose homes may have been contaminated by the COVID-19 virus.

The White House is still reviewing most of Inslee's requests, including unemployment assistance and food benefits, Inslee's office told Patch.

“We appreciate that the federal government has recognized the severity of the public health emergency in Washington state by declaring a major disaster and taking the first step toward additional assistance for Washingtonians,” Inslee said in a statement.

“However, today’s declaration does not unlock many forms of federal assistance we have requested to help workers and families who are badly hurting. We will continue working with our federal partners to deliver the full suite of disaster assistance that is sorely needed in our state, such as expanded unemployment benefits for workers who lose their paychecks as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.”

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