Federal officials arrived in Marion County Monday to assess the extent of damages from last month's winter storm, which the city of Salem estimates will cost about $10.3 million in repairs to public infrastructure.
The officials from FEMA, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, were set to receive a presentation in Salem then go on field tours of the area for several hours, according to a spokesman for the city of Salem.
The tour will likely visit Wallace Marine Park, the area of Hospital and Pringle Park, Airport Road, Turner Road and State Street between 19th and 23rd.
The storm and subsequent flooding event became deadly Jan. 19 when
an Albany mother and her baby boy were swept away by a creek.
In addition to Marion County, Governor John Kitzhaber declared a state of emergency for Coos, Benton and Lincoln counties, allowing them to seek state, and open up the possibly of FEMA aid.
The combination of heavy rains and rapid mountain snow melt
caused basically the entire Willamette Valley to issue a flood warning.
At the time of the event, Salem City Manager Linda Norris told The Statesman Journal the flooding was a "40-year event."
--Toshio Suzuki
