Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON STATE : Residents Returning to Flooded Homes

Rivers swollen by torrential rains began receding as Seattle commuters weathered the loss of a major bridge, dairy farmers discovered herds lost and residents began returning to flooded homes. Losses were expected to reach into the tens of millions of dollars. Three counties in western Washington were declared federal disaster areas and others could be added to the list. Gov. Booth Gardner has sought the declaration for a total of 13 counties. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) said he had received assurances for federal funds for the old Interstate 90 floating bridge that sank in Lake Washington.