Washington to appeal FEMA's $34M disaster aid denial after November storms

Governor Bob Ferguson announced that Washington will appeal FEMA's recent denial of disaster relief funds related to damages from the bomb cyclone last November, which caused an estimated $34 million in damage and resulted in two fatalities. The state had applied for these funds in January to repair damage to public utilities, highways, and electrical systems, but FEMA denied the application on April 11 without explanation. Ferguson criticized the federal government's decision, stating that Washington met all necessary criteria for assistance and described the situation as a troubling example of funding being withheld. The initial disaster declaration by former Governor Jay Inslee covered nine counties, which Ferguson expanded to include Clallam and Jefferson counties as more damage was assessed. Ferguson emphasized that the waiting time for federal assistance is causing further delays in recovery efforts for affected communities. He indicated that the damage estimates may rise as the state collaborates with counties to update their information for the appeal.