Welcome to Skagit County

January 24th, 2008

COUNTY, CITIES, DIKE DISTRICTS PROPOSE THREE-MEMBER SCIENTIFIC PANEL TO REVIEW SKAGIT RIVER FLOOD DATA IN FEMA REMAPPING PROCESS

SKAGIT COUNTY - Yesterday, local elected officials met with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Seattle, to present a proposal for a three-member scientific panel that would review contested Skagit River flood data. The proposal was greeted favorably by FEMA officials, who indicated they would respond in the near future after consulting their superiors, according to Skagit County Commissioner Don Munks. “A good result of this meeting is that, Skagit County, the City of Burlington, the City of Mount Vernon, and Dike Districts 1, 12 and 17 demonstrated their solidarity and cooperation, and commitment to acting together in the best interest of the community as a whole,” said Munks.

In December, Skagit County hired the law firm of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis to represent the County’s interests pertaining to the new FEMA flood maps. Former United States Senator Slade Gorton and Bart Freedman, both attorneys with the K&L Gates firm have recommended the three member scientific panel to address local concerns about hydrology effecting the mapping process.

For further information, contact:
Dan Berentson
Communications Director

360-419-3461