Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The purpose of this chapter is to establish eligibility, activation, funding, and programmatic criteria for a Washington state disaster individual assistance program (WAIA). The WAIA program is designed to provide supplemental state assistance for disaster survivors. Funding is issued through reimbursements to eligible county and/or tribal governments for all nonspecial programs. Special programs are issued in the form of grants to eligible county and/or tribal governments.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Extensive research and outreach activities were conducted during the course of the agency study to develop a state-funded individual assistance program. Key federal stakeholders include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the United States Small Business Administration which support individuals following a federally declared disaster. The Washington military department also met with representatives from the Washington state department of agriculture, commerce, social and health services, health, veterans affairs, and the Washington state conservation commission which provide some disaster individual assistance.

Process for Developing New Rule: Early solicitation of feedback and recommendations concerning new or amended rules, and consideration of comments and recommendations in the course of drafting rule language.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Taylor Dietz, 20 Aviation Drive, Camp Murray, WA 98430, phone 253-302-1338, email taylor.dietz@mil.wa.gov, website mil.wa.gov/EMD; or Joel Haarstad, 20 Aviation Drive, Camp Murray, WA 98430, phone 253-512-7484, email joel.haarstad@mil.wa.gov, website mil.wa.gov/EMD.