BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Trump administration approved major disaster declaration requests for Washington communities hit hard by historic flooding.

The announcement was made Saturday, April 11, four months after floodwaters inundated Whatcom and Skagit Counties.

Major disaster declarations through FEMA can unlock federal support and funding for recovery needs such as public infrastructure repairs and aid for survivors.

Nonetheless, FEMA’s work could be undermined by the ongoing DHS shutdown, now eight weeks long.

While disaster response and recovery can continue through a shutdown because FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund does not lapse, that money is running low.

The DHS appropriations bill would replenish the fund with more than $26 billion.

About 15 requests for assistance from others states and tribes for extreme weather events this year and last are pending.