04.04.24

Senator Cantwell Joins WA Delegation in Supporting Major Disaster Declaration for Communities Affected by Severe Winter Storms in January

Letter comes in the wake of a “series of extraordinary storm events” which struck Washington state in January; State and local agencies responsible for disaster recovery are overburdened and in need of federal assistance, wrote the senators

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), joined the Washington state delegation in sending a letter to President Biden in support of Governor Jay Inslee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in response to a series of severe winter storms that tore through Washington state at the beginning of this year. The disaster declaration would allow impacted communities to access public assistance and hazard mitigation grants to compensate for damage caused by the storms. Gov. Inslee’s request asks for assistance for 16 counties in Washington state: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Skagit, Skamania, and Wahkiakum.

In early January, communities across Washington state faced record winter storms; the National Weather Service Seattle issued a blizzard warning for western Washington for the first time in over a decade and Southwest Washington was hit with an ice storm and freezing rain. Collectively, these storms left over 100,000 households without power and damaged countless buildings, including schools. Damage from the storms is expected to total $30 million.

“Over a 25-day period in January 2024, a series of extraordinary storm events struck Washington state in rapid succession, resulting in prolonged hazardous conditions across the state,” the Members wrote. “Intense windstorms, at times exceeding 60 miles per hour, downed trees and powerlines and exacerbated high tides along coastal communities, already stressed by intense precipitation, to the point of flooding. Widespread blizzard conditions—ice, winds, extreme temperatures, and heavy precipitation—caused significant disruption and resulted in higher than normal snowpack. These conditions continued for weeks, plummeting temperatures to record lows throughout the state and continuing to damage critical infrastructure.”

“The damage caused by these successive storms has been extensive and overwhelming, leaving vital public infrastructure in both urban and rural communities throughout our state in need of significant repairs,” the Members continued. “Downed public utilities caused over 100,000 Washingtonians to go without power, some for several days. Many communities saw significant damage to public infrastructure necessary for local economies, such as boat launches, railroad tracks and popular tourism attractions such as state parks.”

The Members concluded, “While Washington state’s first responders have reacted to these disasters promptly and heroically, the events triggered by these intense winter storms are quickly exhausting the already-strained capacity and resources of our local communities and state agencies. Consequently, we fully support Governor Inslee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for these severe winter storms.”

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) led the letter, which was also signed by Representatives Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03), Dan Newhouse (R, WA-04), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05), Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10).

The full text of the letter is available HERE.

Sen. Cantwell has consistently championed federal relief to help Washington’s families and businesses get back on their feet in the wake of disasters.

Following the devastating Gray and Oregon Road fires in August 2023, Sen. Cantwell visited Medical Lake to speak with affected families and see the destruction firsthand. In October 2023, Sen. Cantwell joined the Washington state delegation in sending a letter to President Biden in support of Gov. Inslee’s request for a disaster declaration for the Gray and Oregon Road fires. In January 2024, Sen. Cantwell and Rep. McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05) sent a letter to President Biden requesting an immediate update on the status of the disaster declaration. A week later, Sen. Cantwell introduced the Making Aid for Local Disasters Equal Now (MALDEN) Act, which would improve coordination between local, state, Tribal, and federal agencies to deliver resources faster in the aftermath of disastrous wildfires.

On February 20, 2024, President Biden declared that a major disaster exists in Spokane County and ordered federal assistance to supplement recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Gray and Oregon Road fires in August 2023. This declaration allowed affected individuals and business owners to apply for federal funds to assist with temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs.

In 2020, following the devastating wildfires in Malden and other areas of Eastern Washington, Sen. Cantwell repeatedly urged President Trump, and subsequently the Biden administration, to approve federal aid to help business owners rebuild. In February 2021, she celebrated the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) approval of a disaster declaration which made federal relief funds available for affected individuals and business owners.  

In February 2024, Sen. Cantwell introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize and expand the National Landslide Preparedness Act for 10 years, through Fiscal Year 2034. This bipartisan legislation aims to help save lives and improve natural disaster emergency preparedness by targeting key gaps in science and mapping critical to understanding landslide hazards. Sen. Cantwell and Rep. Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01) first introduced the National Landslide Preparedness Act in November 2020, and it was signed into law in January 2021. The National Landslide Preparedness Act expanded early warning systems for post-wildfire landslides, created a new federal program focused specifically on landslide hazards through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), directed the USGS to develop new landslide risk maps, and authorized new grant programs for research, mapping, and data collection programs.

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