As a home rule state, disaster recovery is the responsibility of local and tribal governments. It’s possible that there will be no federal or state funding available for recovery. Much of the available federal funding is dependent upon a Presidential Disaster Declaration and declarations may only include parts of the Public Assistance (Infrastructure) or Individual Assistance (Individuals and Families) programs.

Even with outside funding, local ownership of the recovery process is necessary for success.

Acting quickly to engage a long-term recovery organization is key to organizing recovery, building local support and securing resources to support your community and fill unmet needs. For example, as FEMA reported in a 2009 press release:
When applicants with disaster damage have exhausted all available FEMA/state assistance and still have serious unmet needs, they are referred by the state to an LTRO. The state will identify the agency with the appropriate resources to help, then will provide the applicant with the phone number of the county LTRO. The applicant then calls the LTRO.

“Recovering from natural disasters is the work of many hands, many agencies – government and private – and many dedicated individuals,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Willie Nunn. “FEMA programs are part of the recovery process, but people still have long-term needs that go beyond the scope of government assistance. Fortunately, Washington’s Long-Term Recovery Organizations are working now to provide that help.”

Pacific County has in the past, been fortunate, in that local citizens have stepped up and formed Long Term Recovery committees following the Willapa Hotel Fire and the 2007 Windstorm. Those committees facilitated the process and effort involved in meeting the needs of citizens that no other state, federal, or non-governmental organization could. Although no continuing committee exists at this time, PCEMA believes in the resilience of the Pacific County citizens, and based on history, is certain that the citizens of Pacific County would once again step up to assist local communities and their neighbors.

A spreadsheet of currently available state, federal and non-governmental resources can be found by here.