FEMA won’t provide relief to Washington state following ‘bomb cyclone’
The Washington state was recently denied federal disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following a severe bomb cyclone that occurred in November, which caused significant damage, including downed trees and power lines, and resulted in two fatalities.Governor Jay Inslee had previously declared a disaster across 11 counties, including Seattle, due to the storm’s rapid intensification and destructive impact.
Governor Bob Ferguson is challenging FEMA’s decision, asserting that Washington’s application met all necessary criteria for assistance. He criticized the federal government for withholding vital resources that are needed for the state’s recovery. Although FEMA indicated that additional federal support might not be justified, it suggested that washington may seek help from other federal agencies.
This decision poses potential implications for California, which is also seeking FEMA funding for significant wildfire damage this year. Additionally,there are concerns regarding the overarching management and reform plans of FEMA under the Trump governance,which has proposed significant changes to the agency’s operations.
FEMA won’t provide relief to Washington state following ‘bomb cyclone’
Washington was denied Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for a bomb cyclone that hit in November.
Powerful wind and rain toppled trees and electrical power lines. Public highways were damaged, and two people died in the storm. Then-Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, issued disaster declarations across 11 counties at the time, including Seattle. The storm was classified as a bomb cyclone because it rapidly intensified.
Gov. Bob Ferguson (D-WA), who was elected weeks before the storms hit, is taking advantage of the 30-day deadline to appeal the decision.
“There are very clear criteria to qualify for these funds. Washington’s application met all of them. This is another troubling example of the federal government withholding funding,” Ferguson wrote on X. “Washington communities have been waiting for months for the resources they need to fully recover from November’s bomb cyclones, and this decision will cause further delay.”
In a letter, FEMA said that supplemental federal assistance was “not warranted.” However, the letter also implied that Washington might be eligible for additional resources from other federal agencies and offered help from its regional administrator.
The move could spell trouble for California, which also sought FEMA funding for the fires earlier this year. Together, the Palisades and Eaton fires burned over 37,000 acres of land and destroyed more than 16,000 buildings.
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This comes after Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner rejected a draft action plan about aid to Asheville, North Carolina, over its diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. As a result, the department helped draft a new plan as the area reported roughly $1 billion in damages following Hurricane Helene.
The Trump administration has made it clear it plans to overhaul FEMA. In January, President Donald Trump signed an order to establish a task force to review the agency’s practices. Trump and Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem have said there are plans to “eliminate FEMA,” most recently during a Cabinet meeting in March.
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