Oregon Public Broadcasting

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters says the federal government will give Washington $2 million as a down payment toward flood damage repairs.

Mary Peters: “We’re giving the money to the state right now so they can use that money in debris removal and recovery from the flood. What normally happens is the state will make an assessment from all the damages and then the federal government will reimburse them, but because of the wide spread devastation here in Washington State, we wanted to make some money available to the state right away”

Peters says there’s a decent chance the state will be fully reimbursed for highway repairs. But she says further relief money awaits a detailed damage assessment.

Peters spoke after taking an aerial tour of flood damage with Governor Chris Gregoire and Washington’s two U.S. senators.

Gregoire gave a very preliminary estimate of $125 million in flood damage to roads, buildings and other government structures.