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D.C. Granted Disaster Funding For Earthquake

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Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray checks out sections of the pinnacles from National Cathedral that were damaged and later removed after the 5.8 magnitude earthquake.
Patrick Madden
Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray checks out sections of the pinnacles from National Cathedral that were damaged and later removed after the 5.8 magnitude earthquake.

President Obama has signed a disaster declaration for the District of Columbia as a result of the earthquake that shook the region in August. The declaration makes some federal funding available to help D.C. recover from destruction from the 5.8 magnitude quake.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray says the city needs the money to repair schools and other government buildings, as well as the Washington National Cathedral.  His administration says government facilities sustained more than $6 million in earthquake damage. Initial repairs to the National Cathedral alone are expected to cost $15 million.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the disaster funds are being made available to the District as well as some nonprofit organizations.

The funds can also be used for preparing for future emergencies.

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