Long term recovery efforts discussed

SPOKANE – Long term recovery efforts are still in question for the fire victims of the Gray Fire, and a couple dozen people met at the Red Cross, 315 W. Nora, on Oct. 12 to discuss current allocations and potential options moving forward.

They were joined by Washington Governor Jay Inslee.

Inslee said he and his team visited the meeting to see if there is any other way in which the state can help, and to see if current efforts are being coordinated adequately. He also said this part of the process probably won't happen as quickly as people would like.

"We know that we're now in the frustrating part of the recovery," Inslee said. "Which is waiting for the Federal Government to make a decision."

"We've taken a shot at that (federal aid), but that is a long, long way off until we get the numbers."

Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper took a moment to thank Inslee for sending a letter to President Joe Biden requesting federal dollars to help in the Gray Fire and Oregon Road Fire Recovery efforts.

"I appreciate your letter to the President and right on the front page it talks about debris removal," Cooper said to Inslee. "And we all believe, and you do too that it's a public responsibility."

Inslee said during the meeting that he sent as much money as was available in state funds to help take care of the debris removal, but in a wildfire that can be complicated and expensive for any toxic materials or hazards.

Cooper continued by advocating that the aftereffects of wildfire disasters are gauged in the same manner as other disasters.

"Getting the idea out that wildfires are looked at in the same way that hurricanes and tornados are looked at," Cooper said. "The debris field looks different, but it's just as toxic and just as widespread."

The Director of the Washington Emergency Management Division, Robert Ezelle, said the state has also allocated some funding for disaster case management.

"We are making some funds available for disaster case management," Ezelle said. "Which is looking at things like weatherizing recreational vehicles for folks in those."

Ezelle also took a moment to mention the individual assistance requests.

"Just want to make sure that everybody understands that this is a fairly longshot," Ezelle said. "What happened here, as devastating as it was to the communities, when you look at what happened down in California or the loss of life in Lahaina, Hawaii."

"We're kind of on the outside edge of what's possible, and we've done the best job we could to take the case to FEMA and now it's in their hands."

Ezelle went on to say there are eight emergency declarations queued in front of the Gray and Oregon Road Fire requests.

He also said the timing for the funding requests also came right at the end of the annual cycle when most budgets are out of money, and that the Congressional budget arguing at the time didn't help speed anything up.

Ezelle also told some hard truths about the way the funding pans out.

"The other thing to understand is, and we see this a lot as we go through disasters," Ezelle said. "Is that individual assistance was never designed to make people whole again."

He said instead it just takes care of some of the most immediate needs, but won't "rebuild houses."

Some of the current immediate needs have come through the Red Cross, and according to documents they have been assessing multiple types of needs.

They have provided 1195 overnight stays between 227 area residents at Red Cross emergency shelters.

In terms of food, the Red Cross has recorded providing 6330 meals and snacks as well.

Emergency supplies from the Red Cross have been distributed to 320 households according to documents.

680 people have also received recovery support such as financial assistance, eyeglass replacement or other medical needs like filling prescriptions.

This assistance comes from previous funding.

Reinforcing his earlier statement, Ezelle again said that the federal requests are all "long shots," and Inslee spoke in agreement.

"There are no guarantees here," Inslee said.

According to Inslee, disasters have become increasingly more frequent and severe due to climate change.

Inslee said wildfires have doubled over the last 10 years in Spokane County, although he didn't provide statistics to verify that.

Mayor Cooper then asked Inslee if there was any possibility of getting assistance from the National Guard.

"The Guard does not have any additional financial resources," Inslee answered. "Frankly it's more effective if we can find the federal resources and hire contractors to do it than have the Guard do it."

Inslee said the Guard would have to take them out their private jobs in hospitals or other industries, and that would then leave those spots short staffed.

He said it just makes more sense to use a contractor because they are also trained in the specifics whereas Guard members may not be.

President of Re*Imagine Medical Lake, Gerri Johnson spoke on some of the specific needs.

"Out of 240 homes that burned down," Johnson said. "Only 119 have registered with the Red Cross, and that speaks to the 1,000 (residents) that are displaced currently."

"We had 20 percent that are uninsured and we are working with Medical Lake Outreach to find them housing, because that's our greatest need."

Johnson said some of those displace are living clear over in Hayden, Idaho or north Spokane, and now they are impacted by high gas prices as well.

Inslee also said the cost of the disaster is much greater than simply the financial cost, as fire victims suffer psychological trauma as well.

"When you lose your home, you lose a sense of security," Inslee said. "You wrapped up your dreams and your memories in that structure."

For now, local agencies and partnerships continue to build and show support for fire victims while waiting on a federal decision.

Author Bio

Matthew Stephens, Reporter

Matthew graduated from West Virginia University-Parkersburg in 2011 with a journalism degree. He's an award-winning photographer and enjoys writing stories about people.