Oregon Public Broadcasting

Eight months ago, a ferocious windstorm and flooding pummeled western Washington and northwest Oregon.  

Now that it’s hot and sunny, officials are taking a timeout to look at what worked and didn’t work during the disaster. Correspondent Tom Banse reports from Olympia.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray instigated a gathering of local sheriffs, emergency management directors, county commissioners and state officials. 

Frustration with bureaucracy at FEMA -- the Federal Emergency Management Agency -- is a lingering theme.

Lewis County, Washington commissioner Ron Averill wants to know if FEMA trailers will be available for the next disaster.

Ron Averill: “Because of the problems that they had with trailers during the Katrina incident in New Orleans, FEMA made the decision that they wouldn’t bring trailers in. We had a lot of people that needed to repair their homes. The best answer would’ve been to bring in a trailer and put it on the property while they fixed their house and then take it back.”

No one from FEMA was at the meeting to respond.  Averill is among several county officials who say the public deserves more realistic expectations of what disaster assistance is available.