Olympia, WA -- Federal and state agencies have approved $92.9 million in aid to help Washington residents and businesses following the Nisqually earthquake.

The following are highlights of the ongoing disaster response and recovery efforts since the Presidential disaster declaration on March 1, as of close of business May 31.

• Since the disaster declaration, $39.7 million in aid has been approved for disaster rental assistance and minimal repair grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
   
• Inspectors have completed 28,451 damage verifications in the declared counties.
   
• The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $51 million in low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.
   
• The Individual and Family Grant program has approved $2.2 million for residents affected by the earthquake. Grants are to assist with serious disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance or other disaster programs.
   
• The number of applications made for disaster assistance through FEMA's toll-free registration line totaled 33,079 at the close of business, May 31.

State and federal officials continue to urge disaster victims to call the registration number at

1-800-462-9029 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. The deadline to register is June 30, 2001.

For the designated counties the total number of applicants and assistance approved to date for disaster rental assistance and minimal repair grants are:

County	Registrations	Approved Disaster Housing
Benton	45	$62,283
Chelan	59	$36,601
Clallam	99	$103,313
Clark	152	$163,526
Cowlitz	111	$215,581
Grays Harbor	1320	$2,402,738
Island	85	$101,999
Jefferson	75	$87,777
King	13383	$15,759,456
Kitsap	2319	$2,720,472
Kittitas	75	$72,193
Lewis	999	$1,402,414
Mason	669	$939,289
Pacific	154	$323,415
Pierce	6428	$8,252,369
Skagit	356	$389,928
Skamania	5	$6,030
Snohomish	1232	$950,573
Thurston	4570