At the same time private homeowners are looking for help from Uncle Sam - so are local governments.

When President Bush approved Gov. Kulongoski's request for a disaster declaration on March 20th - after storms battered the state from mid-December to mid-January - it triggered two federal aid programs, one for governments and another for residents.

The 18 Oregon counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, requested aid based on preliminary damage estimates totaling around $9 million across the state.

On Thursday, Coos and Curry County officials, as well as Bandon and Coos Bay officials met with Oregon Department of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Managers in Bandon to get a briefing on how the application process will proceed and what to expect.

The federal grants will cover up to 75 percent of the eligible costs defined by federal law. Specific dollar amounts and what is to be fixed is still weeks away, Coos County officials said.

Preliminary public and private property damage to Coos County, including the city of Coos Bay, has previously been estimated at around $4.5 million including substantial damage to Glen Aiken Creek and Lee Valley roads and a sinkhole near the intersection of Koosbay Boulevard and 10th Street in Coos Bay.

The federal aid for governments will come from the federal Public Assistance Program which goes toward replacing or repairing damaged public property like city and county roads, bridges, public buildings and reimbursing local governments for work carried out during the storms.

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security