Submitted by the Orcas Island Community Foundation.

The Orcas Island Community Foundation and the Orcas Community Resource Center are launching a trial program to help individuals and families who experienced property damage and suffered economic losses due to the recent deluges. Thanks to generous community donations to the Community Emergency Response Fund, emergency assistance grants of up to $10,000 will be made available to households that suffered damages.

Applicants can apply here: https://orcascrc.org/flood-damage-relief. All applications will be reviewed by the Orcas Community Resource Center Flood Relief Advisory Team: Margie Bangs, Patricia Benton, Lisa Byers, Steve Jung and Ken Katz.

Once an application is approved and prioritized, funds will be immediately available through OCRC. This program is being seeded with $100,000 from CERF. Once these funds have been distributed, the program will be evaluated and may be adjusted or continued as is. We recognize that for many, $10,000 will be a drop in the bucket of needed emergency assistance. It is our sincere hope that the money will allow neighbors to take immediate actions that will prevent an even greater financial impact in the future.

If you have questions or need further assistance, contact relief@orcascrc.org or call (360) 376-3184, and one of the advisors will get back to you.