Flood damage could total more than $1 million in Whatcom County
Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation Wednesday, Feb. 5, for Whatcom County and 18 others in Washington state that were affected by the recent snowstorm, flooding and landslides.
Damages in Whatcom County are still being assessed, but totals could exceed $1 million, according to John Gargett, deputy director of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management.
About 120 homes and 25 businesses were affected by floodwaters, mostly in the Everson-Nooksack-Sumas area where the Nooksack river spilled over a levee and sent water rushing north, Garrett told The Bellingham Herald.
Wednesday’s proclamation lets state agencies use state resources “to do everything reasonably possible to assist affected communities,” Inslee wrote in the proclamation, which was sent to news organizations.
It also allows the state to apply for U.S. Department of Transportation funds to help repair roadways.
Gargett said Inslee’s move is “a significant step forward” in moving the process along to obtain federal aid.
“Whatcom was the hardest-hit county in the state with regard to last week’s floods,” Gargett said.
He said state Office of Emergency Management officials were scheduled Thursday to visit Lummi Nation, Everson, Nooksack and Sumas — areas that saw flooding from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in the wake of heavy rainstorms.
On Thursday, Feb. 6, the American Red Cross said in an email that it sent a disaster assessment team to Sumas and provided residents with cleanup kits and advice on disinfecting flood-damaged homes.
Meanwhile, Whatcom County officials will discuss the recent flooding at a special meeting this weekend, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management wrote in a statement Tuesday.
County Executive Satpal Sidhu will join officials from the Public Works Department, Planning and Development Services, the Assessor’s Office, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene and other officials to recap the events and discuss how the county can help affected residents and businesses.
Officials will take questions and help residents understand flood damage and the planning permit process.
The meeting is open to the public from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 8, at Nooksack Valley High School, 3326 E. Badger Road in Everson.
This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 4:01 PM.
