In the wake of the terrible wildfires impacting our region, Gov. Ferguson issued a set of executive actions on August 10 to support community fire relief.
We wanted to make sure our partners are aware of these additional resources and supports. A big thank you to our partners at Capitol Path consulting for compiling these resources.
This proclamation covers Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens, Douglas, and Yakima counties, plus the Yakama, Colville Confederated, and Spokane Tribes.
Below are some highlights of what this covers:
For individuals:
• DOH and DOL are on-site at the Emergency Disaster Center at Shadle Park High School helping people replace lost IDs, licenses, and vital records — free of charge.
• DOL will grant extra time for people to renew their business and professional licenses – this includes licenses for cosmetology, notaries, real estate, security guards, and numerous other professions.
• People who lost their homes can now get State Individual Assistance regardless of income or insurance status.
• Family Emergency Assistance is expanded to families without kids, and wildfire-affected families can tap it monthly instead of just once a year. To access those dollars please go here.
• Unemployment benefits: the usual one-week wait is waived, and folks don’t have to prove they’re job-hunting each week.
• Eviction protections: no eviction actions for two weeks (with some exceptions), and landlords can’t evict tenants for taking in displaced neighbors or their pets, or for “abandoned” property when someone had to flee the fires.
Health care:
• License renewal extensions for providers, relaxed supervision rules for medical assistants, and eased requirements so hospitals/pharmacies can operate at alternate sites or add staff faster.
• The proclamation waives restrictions on admissions and capacity limitations for adult family homes and assisted living facilities, and temporarily suspends certain paperwork requirements, so that these facilities can focus on serving residents who have been displaced by the wildfires.
Businesses/agencies:
The proclamation does a number of things for businesses as well including:
• Suspending rules limiting the number of hours truck drivers can be behind the wheel as long as they have enough rest.
• Waives penalties with fees for filing taxes late.
• Directs state agencies to submit reports within 30 days identifying statutes, regulations or building code provisions that can be waived or suspended to streamline state regulations and permitting requirements for people who are rebuilding.
Gov. Ferguson has also directed his agencies to find other actions that could help provide relief and remove any burdens to fire victims – this includes identifying permits and regulations that could be waived to help streamline homes being rebuilt.