Applications opened Friday for $2.5 million in disaster assistance for Washingtonians whose homes were seriously damaged by December flooding.
The state and Salvation Army are distributing funds to cover costs of short-term housing, small home repairs and food replacement. To qualify for assistance, residents must live in King, Snohomish, Skagit or Whatcom counties; earn 80% or less of the area median gross income; and show that their primary residence was destroyed or seriously damaged by water reaching the electrical outlets on the home's first floor.
People can apply online at SAhelp.org, by phone at 833-719-4981 or by visiting a disaster assistance center in their county.
Grants are based on household size. A single-person household can receive a maximum of $375, a two-to-four-person household can receive $750 and a household of five people or more can receive $1,125.
Residents who complete the application will be asked to provide supporting documents. A list of acceptable documentation is available at st.news/flooding-assistance.
Disaster assistance center locations in King County:
* Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S. Open Saturday, Jan. 3 (1 to 6 p.m.)
* King County Library System Administrative Office, 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah. Open Sunday, Jan. 4 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
* Carnation Library, 4804 Tolt Ave. Open Monday, Jan. 5 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Disaster assistance center locations in Snohomish County:
* Volunteers of America Western Washington Sky Valley Center, 617 1st St., Sultan. Open Sunday, Jan. 11 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.); Tuesday, Jan. 13 (2 p.m. to 8 p.m.); Wednesday, Jan. 14 (2 to 8 p.m.)
Additional locations are planned for Skagit and Whatcom counties the second week of January, according to the governor's office.
The $2.5 million available is part of $3.5 million unlocked by Gov. Bob Ferguson’s emergency declaration. The first $1 million was distributed by the state Department of Social and Health Services to over 2,600 households. More information about recovery assistance, including how to replace food lost in the flooding that was purchased using food benefits, is available at floodrecovery.wa.gov.
According to a news release from Ferguson's office, state officials are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete a damage assessment to request a federal major disaster declaration. That could open the door to federal assistance for households, public agencies and infrastructure.
Some Washingtonians who live in flood-prone areas have begun to look into “flood buyout” or “property acquisition” programs, where counties buy flood-prone or -damaged properties from homeowners. The process, which exists in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Whatcom counties, often takes years but can help people dodge future flood damages while lands are restored as natural areas.
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