Title
A MOTION requesting the executive provide support for residents and businesses impacted by recent severe weather; and requesting a plan for King County's ongoing response and an after-action report.
Body
WHEREAS, on November 19, 2024, a record-setting powerful extratropical cyclone storm, or bomb cyclone, the magnitude of which the area has never seen, brought heavy rains and gusts of wind over seventy miles per hour throughout the county, and
WHEREAS, the impacts of the storm included widespread power outages that affected over 500,000 customers, which is almost one-fourth of the residents in King County, as well as fallen trees throughout the county that resulted in the closures of roads, schools, and businesses, and the deaths of at least two people, and
WHEREAS the eastside of the county was the most heavily affected area with thousands of customers still without power one week after the initial outage;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The council requests the executive to provide support, to the extent allowed by law, to the residents, businesses, and municipalities impacted by the November 19, 2024, storm event, and to provide a plan for King County's ongoing response, outlining specific actions the county can legally take to provide immediate and longer-term relief for the safety and security of our residents, including, but not limited to, the following:
1. For unincorporated King County, fee waivers, authorized under K.C.C. 27.02.040, for home and business repairs stemming from the storm;
2. Recommendations for establishing a grant program for residents with a demonstrated financial need who have incurred out of pocket living expenses as a result of extended power outages, such as fuel for generators, spoiled food expenses, short-term hotel charges, tree and branch removal, impacts to farms with produce or animals, and other storm-related expenses. The recommendations should include potential funding sou...
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