President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Washington state after devastating floods in December 2025, according to a news release sent Saturday, April 11. The declaration unlocks millions of dollars in funding assistance for individuals, local governments and the state.
Individuals living in 10 counties, including Skagit and Whatcom, and 16 tribes, including Lummi Nation, the Nooksack Indian Tribe and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, can apply for financial assistance through FEMA, according to the release. The funds include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other recovery efforts.
Local governments, tribes and certain nonprofits are eligible for Federal Public Assistance dollars on a cost-sharing basis to cover emergency work and repair of infrastructure damaged by the storms that caused severe flooding throughout Western Washington.
Gov. Bob Ferguson thanked the president and the Washington state Congressional delegation in a Saturday morning social media post, calling it “excellent news.”
The December flooding, considered the second 100-year storm in the last five years, caused nearly 75,000 people to be evacuated from their homes, while residents in Sumas and Everson faced the reality of having to rebuild again after the 2021 floods.
During the floods, the federal government provided an emergency declaration for the state to access resources like the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard.
In January, Ferguson requested a major disaster declaration, including an ask for $21.3 million in individual assistance funding to help survivors.
“The scale, duration, and severity of this disaster overwhelmed local and state response capabilities,” Ferguson said at the time. “Thousands of families experienced devastating loss. Federal assistance is essential to help Washingtonians recover from these historic floods.”
Then in February, Ferguson requested federal financial aid to help the state rebuild infrastructure lost during the flooding. Portions of U.S. Highway 2, which connects Western and Eastern Washington, crumbled into the river or washed away entirely because of erosion. The 50 miles of road reopened in February, months ahead of schedule, after extensive repairs.
Ferguson estimated $182.3 million in assistance — the highest dollar amount requested in Washington in the last 40 years — was needed to repair the state’s infrastructure. That dollar amount will likely increase this summer as snow melts and officials get a better sense of hidden damage.
The federal government will reimburse up to 75% of repair costs.
Individuals and families who are recovering from the floods and sustained losses should file claims with their insurance providers and then apply for federal assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, an Everett Democrat, lauded the approval in a statement issued Saturday. He said he spent Friday in Whatcom County, meeting with flood survivors and witnessing ongoing recovery efforts.
“I have seen firsthand how hard these communities were hit, and I know how important this declaration is to getting people the help they need,” he said. “I witnessed the importance of this money while touring home elevation projects in Ferndale. We have a lot of work ahead of us to get these dollars out the door, and my office is ready to help.”
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at [email protected]; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
