Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson has formally asked U.S. President Donald Trump to declare the destructive December floods a major disaster and to provide $21.3 million in federal aid to affected residents. The funds are intended for direct financial support to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed. The request is the first step in seeking large-scale federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The storm that struck the state from Dec. 5–22 caused massive damage. According to the governor’s office, more than 100,000 people were at risk, nearly 400 rescue operations were conducted, one person died, and about 4,000 homes were damaged. The state’s three largest rivers — the Snoqualmie, Skykomish and Stillaguamish, which originate in the Cascade Mountains — reached historic highs due to heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt. Levees were breached, causing sudden flooding of residential and industrial areas in the valleys and triggering mass evacuations.
The requested $21.3 million covers only part of the needed aid, addressing so-called “individual assistance” for residents. A separate, much larger request for rebuilding damaged roads, levees and other infrastructure is planned to be submitted by Feb. 18. If the request is approved, residents will be able to apply directly to FEMA for reimbursements of up to $43,600 for temporary housing, repairs and other needs.
Historically, FEMA’s aid decisions have enjoyed bipartisan support. However, in recent years President Trump has repeatedly tied such decisions to politics, openly stating he would prioritize aid to states that voted for him. In 2024 the agency already denied Washington’s request for $34 million to address the aftermath of another storm, despite the state meeting all official criteria.
Governor Ferguson’s current request, however, is receiving unprecedented bipartisan backing. Washington’s entire congressional delegation, as well as both Democratic and Republican leaders in the state legislature, will send letters to the White House this week supporting the funding. This demonstrates unity in the effort to help those affected.
A full assessment of the total damage from the December storms is still underway. Preliminary estimates put road and highway repairs alone at least $40 million. The most seriously affected route was the vital Highway 2 over Stevens Pass — a key transportation and economic corridor that connects the densely populated west side of the state with the agricultural east. Sections of the road were completely washed out, and traffic was blocked for weeks. Although passage over the pass has now been restored, full repairs will take months. Detours use longer, congested routes over Snoqualmie, White Pass and Washington passes, significantly increasing travel times, causing freight delays, raising logistics costs and isolating whole communities. No timeline has been set for a response from the White House on the aid request.
Based on: WA asks Trump for $21 million in FEMA aid for flood victims