Whatcom County flood victims eligible for up to $1,000 from Realtors groups
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Whatcom County and Washington households recovering from the severe December flooding have about a week left to apply for up to $1,000 through the Realtors Relief Foundation (RRF).
The Whatcom County Association of Realtors has distributed $50,000 in recovery assistance to local families as of March 5, and the Washington Realtors Association has distributed about $100,000 to individuals in impacted counties across the state. Thousands of dollars are still available to disperse.
The deadline to apply for funding is March 13.
Whatcom County flood victims told The Bellingham Herald this funding goes a long way in supporting their recovery. For many local households, this is their second time being flooded in four years.
“I’m really thankful. We need more organizations to help get money directly to flood victims,” said Deming blueberry farm operator and two-time flood victim Alexandra Williams. “At the end of the day, my neighbors and I have used every resource we have to try to get home. It’s financially and emotionally draining. This is the first check we’ve really received outside of help from our immediate family and friends.”
Whatcom County Fire District 1 Chief Rachel Carlson’s home flooded in 2021 and again in 2025. She said it’s been a long process trying to repair her home, which has been unlivable since the first flood. Carlson’s family had just finished storing thousands of dollars of construction materials in her basement to continue repairs from the first flood, when the second flood hit, ruining the materials and setting them back even further.
“We feel sincere gratitude for the efforts of the Realtors Association and our community. For us, this is a rent payment,” Carlson told The Herald. “This is huge. It’s life changing for us.”
Flood victims receiving funding from the Realtor’s Association told The Herald they are managing significant debt due to necessary repairs and hotel stays after their homes flooded. Williams said the quicker money can be dispersed, the better.
“From the time I submitted the application to the time that I actually picked up the check was fairly quick. It’s so helpful to have a local organization work so hard to get the money directly into the hands of the people in need in a short turn around time,” Williams said.
Any Washington resident who suffered damage to their primary residence can apply for assistance from the RRF. Qualified applicants can use the funds to support:
- Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged by the disaster.
- Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the disaster.
- Hotel reimbursement due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the disaster.
For eligibility requirements and a link to the application, visit https://warealtor.org/about-us/contact-us/realtors-relief-foundation-resources. For questions about the program, email floodreliefassistance@warealtor.org or call 800-562-6024.
As a result of Washington’s December flooding, more than 100,000 people were under evacuation orders, 383 emergency rescues were conducted, one person died and almost 4,000 homes were damaged, according to a Jan. 21 report from Gov. Bob Ferguson that sought a federal disaster declaration from President Trump and $21.3 million in FEMA assistance for families.
A total of 1,248 homes were flooded in communities along the Nooksack River, from Maple Falls to the river delta in Lummi Nation, according to the report.
Damage to Whatcom County businesses and government infrastructure alone has surpassed $23 million, including more than $2 million in repairs that must be made to roads, according to the county Public Works Department and the Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management.
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 10:47 AM.
