Gluesenkamp Perez, Washington Delegation Urge President to Reconsider Major Disaster Declaration for November ‘Bomb Cyclone’

This week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) joined the entire Washington state delegation in sending a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to reconsider the denial of Washington state’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of the devastating windstorms, heavy rainfall, flooding, and mudslides caused by a bomb cyclone in November 2024.

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 structures – resulting in tens of thousands of dollars of damage.

“One of the most destructive storms in recent history, it overwhelmed public infrastructure, endangered lives, and left residents across the state grappling with long-term consequences. This is precisely the kind of catastrophic event for which the federal declaration process was designed. The state’s request outlines over $34 million in damages across these six counties – costs that local governments cannot and should not be expected to shoulder alone,” wrote the lawmakers. “Disaster declarations are not symbolic, they are critical lifelines for communities in crisis. Washington state’s first responders, local governments, and emergency management professionals have done everything within their means to begin recovery, but the scale of the damage requires federal support through the Public Assistance Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.

In January, the lawmakers urged President Joe Biden to grant the request for a Major Disaster Declaration.

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.