NORTH SOUND, APRIL 15: Over the weekend, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal assistance has become available to Washington State in response to the December 2025 flooding disaster.
The President’s action provides federal funding resources to impacted individuals in 10 counties including Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, and King, along with 16 tribal nations in Western Washington including the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Tribe, Samish Nation, Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe, Swinomish Tribe, Tulalip Tribes, and the upper Skagit Tribe.
The federal funds will help supplement recovery efforts impacted by flooding, landslides, and strong winds associated with the cycle of warm wet atmospheric rivers that struck the region from December 5 through 19.
The federal assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property losses, and other programs to assist families and individuals recover from the impacts of the disaster.
FEMA highlights that those who sustained losses in the disaster declaration areas need to first file claims with their insurance providers. After that, they can then apply for online assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov, use the FEMA App, or call 800-621-3362.
Federal resource assistance for public infrastructure such as roads and bridges, is also available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and specific private non-profit organizations on a cost-sharing basis. This assistance is for emergency work and repair, and replacement of damaged facilities.
Since 1950, the state of Washington has suffered an average of one federal disaster declaration per year. About 50 percent of these federal disaster declarations involve flooding. The remaining 50 percent include snow/ice storm events, strong wind storms, landslides, and wildfires.
