SEATTLE - President Bush declared Washington's flooding a major disaster Saturday, clearing the way for federal recovery aid to the state as well as local governments -- but not residents -- in the hardest-hit areas.

Bush's declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse six southwestern counties -- Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston -- at least 75 percent of debris-removal costs, and up to 75 percent of emergency measures. FEMA spokeswoman Debbie Wing said more types of assistance could be granted and more counties could be covered as floodwaters recede and officials get a better look at the damage.

Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire welcomed the news but said the aid falls short of what she requested: federal money to help people get back on their feet following violent storms and widespread flooding that struck Western Washington beginning Dec. 1. She announced that she would issue $300,000 in emergency state funding for that purpose.

"People who have been flooded out of their homes or who continue to live without power need help right now to meet their basic needs," Gregoire said. "We still await a declaration for individual assistance and while we await that action I today have authorized $300,000 from my emergency fund to be made available to through social and health services to those individuals and families who find themselves in dire need of the basics for life."

Gregoire also announced that the state would become the lead sponsor of an Army Corps of Engineers project to protect Lewis County -- including a flood-prone section of Interstate 5 -- from future inundation. A 20-mile section of I-5, the region's main north-south route, finally reopened Friday after being covered by up to 10 feet of water for much of the week; it was the third time in the past 17 years that flooding submerged I-5 south of Olympia.

Gregoire spent Saturday touring the devastation by helicopter with Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Rep. Norm Dicks, and U.S. Transportation Department officials. As they touched down at the W.F. West High School in Chehalis -- which has doubled as a shelter this week -- the Transportation Department announced an immediate $1 million for repairs or cleanup needs.

The money could be put toward the flood-protection measures for I-5, Murray's office said.

The governor said she would ask the Legislature for authority to issue $50 million in dedicated general obligation bonds for the state's portion of the Lewis County project. Federal funding has been authorized by Congress.

The Legislature allocated $30 million in 2003 for a plan to build levees along the corridor and expand the Skookumchuck River dam so it could better protect the region, but the project stalled when key players, including Lewis County, withdrew support and the cities of Centralia and Chehalis resisted the potential obligation to cover maintenance costs. The state diverted most of the money to other road projects.

AP

Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell, and Carlos Castillo, assistant administer for disaster assistance of FEMA, join Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, not shown, in an air tour of storm damaged areas.

Storms beginning on Dec. 1 cut electric power, destroyed buildings and caused widespread flooding. Six deaths were blamed on the disaster: four people in southwestern Washington and a pair of hikers in the Cascade Mountains. At least one person was missing, but police in rural Winlock considered their search for the man a recovery mission, not a rescue.

Traffic moving on I-5 again

Interstate 5 near Chehalis reopened to all traffic midday Friday after severe flooding brought all traffic on the economic lifeline to halt in the Centralia / Chehalis area for four days. The impact alone is estimated in the millions of dollars.

"There is still a lot of clean-up left to go, but our goal was to get the trucks moving and the cars moving," said Doug Wagner, Washington Department of Transportation. "But we have a lot of debris along the side of the roadway that still needs to be picked up. We have some guard rail damage."

Crews worked around the clock to drain nearly 10 feet of water that shut down the 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 connecting Portland to Seattle. One lane of I-5 was reopened to freight haulers late Thursday night. Freight traffic was slowgoing as crews cleared mud and flood debris on the interstate. Crews briefly shut I-5 down again Friday morning to reset the barriers back in place before reopening shortly before noon.

The flood-related closure halted traffic between Centralia and Chehalis on a portion of the freeway that normally carries about 54,000 vehicles a day.

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About a mile-stretch of I-5 remained under four feet of water Thursday morning.

High water also prevented the use of nearby detours, with some trucks heading as far east as Yakima to get around the blockage. Officials say the state economy was losing about $4 million each day the freeway was out of commission.

The latest

While all rivers - including the Chehalis - have dropped below flood stage, utility crews are working to restore electricity to thousands of people. Power was restored to about 13,000 customers Friday night in hard-hit Grays Harbor County, leaving about 6,000 customers to get back online. Lewis County has approximately 24 customers without power, Pacific County has 650, and Mason County has five. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a major concern for those still in the dark.

The Department of Health reports that 14 water systems affecting 2,883 people are still shut down, and 13 water systems are on boiled water advisories. The health department is asking that any food touched by floodwaters be thrown out and no harvesting of shellfish in the affected areas.

The Washington National Guard has 474 soldiers on active duty, and many are devoting their time to storm victims in Grays Harbor County. Red Cross volunteers say they have served more than 2,597 meals and 2,217 snacks to the affected communities.

Security Attorney General Rob McKenna is warning Washington residents to beware of possible flood-related repair scams including fraudulent home repair offers and charity appeals..

Relief efforts underway

In the neighborhoods of hard-hit Lewis County, people are starting to dig out of the muddy waters and get a tally of the damage. Piles of muddied, ruined belongings sit in front yards.

Everything is destroyed in Romona Carr's house, which served as the family home for 30 years.

"My dad put it in a trust for me until I die," she said. "This came first."

Every pile of rubble brings tears.

Homes are being tagged by state inspectors who are going door to door, checking for structural damage. Most are green tags, meaning homeowners can occupy and continue cleaning up.

"We're in the process of methodically - area by area - checking things out," said Douglas McCudden, state inspector.

There was the first sign of FEMA Saturday, driving through the neighborhoods and making an initial damage assessment. Some homeowners say FEMA is late.

"The sad thing is we can't find help," said Rob Car.

Many of the homeowners don't have flood insurance.