TUMWATER, Wash. -- Most of the Tumwater Fish Hatchery is back up and running, but not all.
The Deschutes River backed up so high in January that the water level rose up to 6 feet, filling a huge space near the fish ponds with gravel, sand and other debris.
Crews have been dredging out the buildup, but their work isn't done. Part of the lower fish ladder still needs work.
The gushing waters also wiped out a safety fence where people can stand to get a good look at the falls, and will cost close to $3,000 to replace it.
"These are a bunch of small projects where that we're working," said Willie Nunn of FEMA.
The damages were small by FEMA standards, but large to most counties that don't have tens of thousands of dollars to spare for repairs. Thirty three of the state's 39 counties have ongoing repair projects.
FEMA works closely with the state to make sure each of those projects is getting done since they involve community infrastructure. But they also work closely with homeowners to make sure they're getting the help they need.
"If they feel that something's missing they need to call back, they need to let us know. They need to let the state know. Because if we don't don't know, we can't help," said Nunn.
Now, FEMA and the state are pushing to prevent the damages from recurring in future storms.
"If you've been flooded, you may qualify or be eligible for a mitigation grant that would elevate your home so that we can turn around and prevent the flooding in the future," said Kurt Hardin of the state Department of Emergency Management.
Studies indicate each dollar spent to prevent damage saves taxpayers $4 in repairs.
And residents shouldn't skip flood insurance, even if they don't live in a flood-prone area. Over the course of a 30-year mortgage, a homeowner's risk of flooding is one in four while the risk of fire is just one in ten. And one third of all flood insurance claims are by residents who live in low-risk communities.
"If a water main breaks and they get flooded, they may not be eligible for any assistance except flood insurance," said Hardin.
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