OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The governor is criticizing the federal government for withholding disaster relief funds from November’s bomb cyclone.
Gov. Ferguson says FEMA denied the state’s request for federal disaster relief on Friday, April 11 without any explanation. He calls it another “troubling example” of the federal government refusing funds, even though he claims the state met all the criteria to qualify for the emergency relief.
“There are very clear criteria to qualify for these emergency relief funds. Washington’s application met all of them. This is another troubling example of the federal government withholding funding,” Gov. Ferguson said in a statement. “Washington communities have been waiting for months for the resources they need to fully recover from last winter’s devastating storms, and this decision will cause further delay. We will appeal.”
According to the governor’s office, the storm caused an estimated $34 million in damage to public highways, public utilities and electrical grids in Washington state.
It also killed two people in King and Snohomish counties and damaged over 20 homes in Sudden Valley when it struck on Nov. 19, 2024.
Ferguson says he plans to appeal FEMA’s denial of the relief funds.
