Gluesenkamp Perez, Washington Delegation Support Major Disaster Declaration for Communities Affected by November ‘Bomb Cyclone’

This week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) joined the Washington state delegation in sending a letter to the President in support of a Major Disaster Declaration in response to the devastating windstorms, heavy rainfall, flooding, and mudslides caused by a bomb cyclone that struck Washington state in November.

The disaster declaration would allow impacted communities to access public assistance and hazard mitigation grants to compensate for damage caused by the storms. The request asks for assistance for 6 counties in Washington state: Pacific, Wahkiakum, East King, Grays Harbor, Snohomish, and Walla Walla Counties.

Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties experienced sinkholes, crippled utility infrastructure, and damaged public and private structures.

“The November storm delivered catastrophic impacts across the Evergreen state, impacting millions of residents and wreaking havoc on communities. The storm was one of the most severe the state has seen, toppling trees into homes, damaging power infrastructure across multiple counties, paralyzing major transportation corridors, and tragically claiming two lives. An initial assessment reveals extensive damage to critical infrastructure, parks, cultural sites, schools, public buildings, and more, resulting in over $34 million dollars in damages across six counties,” wrote the lawmakers. “We commend the extraordinary efforts of our first responders and emergency personnel whose tireless work under dangerous conditions has been vital in protecting lives and restoring essential services. However, the scale and severity of this disaster has overwhelmed the state’s capacity to recover fully. Federal assistance is critical to supplement the state’s efforts.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.

Sens. Maria Cantwell (WA) and Patty Murray (WA) and Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Michael Baumgartner (WA-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) also signed onto the letter.