BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County residents who were affected by last year’s devastating “bomb cyclone” can now apply for relief funds.

Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, Jan. 7 over the disaster that hit the Pacific Northwest on Nov. 19, 2024.

The proclamation opens up $1 million in state funding for residents in Whatcom, King and Snohomish counties to support ongoing recovery efforts. It will also prepare the state to seek federal aid for repairing public infrastructure that was damaged.

Inslee says the funding will help address short-term housing, some home repairs and other critical needs. His announcement came after a review of the damages revealed that the state would not qualify for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

According to the Whatcom County website, applicants for financial assistance must:

  • Be a resident of Whatcom County or tribal nation.
  • Uninsured or Underinsured. If underinsured, show proof of insurance and any claim settlement information related to the disaster.
  • Present evidence of damages that are attributed to the declared disaster, including but not limited to:
    • Proof that the primary home was destroyed or rendered inaccessible (e.g., only the foundation remains, or there is a partial or complete failure of the roof, walls, framing, and/or the foundation; confirmed imminent health and/or safety danger such as broken gas lines, impending landslides, mudslides, or sinkholes).
    • If applicant is seeking Medical/Dental assistance through Disaster-caused Unmet Needs, proof of destroyed or major level of damage to primary residence is not required.
  • Provide proof of disaster assistance received from any other entity for this event (duplication of benefits).
  • Have a household income equal to or less than 80 percent of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) area median household income based on the number of persons in the household. HUD’s area median income includes the county or nearest metropolitan statistical area, whichever benefits the applicant.  Quick reference chart below.
  • Small Business Administration (SBA) Application requirements are waived for Whatcom County, as SBA assistance is not available for Whatcom County households based on SBA’s announcement.
Courtesy of Whatcom County

Whatcom County previously issued an emergency proclamation in December in hopes of receiving state aid.

The storm hit Sudden Valley particularly hard, where 23 homes were damaged by trees and at least four residents were displaced, though no one was reported injured.