FEMA declared several counties in Washington state a federal disaster area Monday, stemming from the damage sustained during a series of winter storms in mid-January. The declaration means that federal aid is available for state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organization to help for repairs stemming from flooding, landslides and mudslides that happened between Jan. 14 and 23. The counties eligible are Clallam, Grays Harbor, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, and Wahkiakum. The main snow, ice and wind storms left over 300,000 people without power, knocked over several trees and triggered mudslides around the region.