Residents of Washington state who were impacted by the historic floods last December have until June 10 to apply for federal assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers Individual Assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to help those affected recover from the disaster.
Local Leaders Urge Action
Governor Bob Ferguson, alongside FEMA federal coordinating officer John Harrison and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, recently addressed the community at the FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Center in Renton. They emphasized the importance of applying for assistance. Governor Ferguson stated, “I know firsthand how resilient Washingtonians are — but no one can recover from a disaster of this magnitude alone.”
The governor’s office had requested federal funds earlier this year to support recovery efforts. The assistance programs are designed to cover expenses not addressed by insurance, such as temporary housing, home repairs, and personal property losses.
Assistance Programs Available
FEMA’s Individual Assistance program can help with costs not covered by insurance, including temporary housing and home repairs. Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available for those who lost their jobs due to the flooding and do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits. This includes small business owners and those not covered by unemployment law.
SBA loans are available to cover personal or business-related losses not covered by insurance or FEMA funding. These loans can address physical damage to homes or businesses and economic injuries to businesses.
Community Impact
The December floods had a significant impact on King County, particularly in the Snoqualmie Valley and along the Cedar River, where water levels reached historic highs. The governor’s office reports that approximately 3,891 homes were damaged, with 440 homes either destroyed or sustaining major damage.
Residents are encouraged to apply for assistance by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 800-621-3362, or visiting a Disaster Assistance Center. The Cedar River Council has also extended its flood experience survey through the end of June to gather more information on the impact of the floods.
Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.
