(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (D-WA, 1st) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA, 6th) led the full Washington state congressional delegation in writing a letter to President Biden in support of Governor Jay Inslee’s request for a federal emergency disaster declaration as a result of the damages incurred by the severe winter storms, high winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning November 5 through December 2, 2021 in Northwest Washington. U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA, 9th), Rick Larsen (D-WA, 2nd), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA, 5th), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA 3rd), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA, 10th), Dan Newhouse (R-WA, 4th), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA, 7th), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA, 8th) also joined the letter.
“Statewide, an estimated 1,000 primary residences were affected by flooding with more than 300 sustaining major damage. The storms resulted in two fatalities, hundreds of individuals rescued, and more than 1,000 evacuations. There were significant disruptions to essential community services, utilities, and infrastructure far beyond 72 hours. Approximately 158,000 residents were without power at the disaster’s peak. The severe storms caused substantial damage to hundreds of homes outside mapped flood zones with numerous uninsured home and personal property losses,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Locally, Whatcom County experienced the largest and most severe disaster in its 167-year history…In addition, Residents in Skagit County experienced the worst flood in more than 30 years with near-record flooding in several locations resulting in more than $7,850,000 in personal property damages and $1,466,000 in damages reported by businesses. In Clallam County, the Makah Indian Tribe and several other communities became isolated due to extensive flooding, landslides and road closures, leading to food, water, fuel and medicine shortages” the lawmakers continued. “Consequently, we fully support Governor Inslee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the November flooding and support any subsequent request for other assistance.”
In the letter, the lawmakers specifically supported Governor Inslee’s request for Individual Assistance, which includes Mass Care and Emergency Assistance, Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Disaster Legal Services, Disaster Case Management and the Individuals and Households Program, for Clallam, Skagit and Whatcom Counties, as well as for the federally recognized Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and the Quileute Tribe. Understanding that damages to public infrastructure are still being collected, they also supported any subsequent request from the Governor for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assistance.
See the full letter below and HERE.