Residents and businesses affected by the historic flooding are urged to apply for FEMA aid as millions have already been distributed across Washington.
SEATTLE — Gov. Bob Ferguson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay urged people affected by the state’s historic December 2025 flooding to apply for assistance before the deadline.
Speaking Wednesday from a Disaster Recovery Center in Renton, Ferguson highlighted three types of FEMA assistance available to those impacted: FEMA Individual Assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and low-interest loans for small businesses.
“We encourage every Washingtonian impacted by the flood to seek assistance,” Ferguson said, adding that FEMA Individual Assistance does not have to be repaid.
The deadline to apply is June 10.
Ferguson also announced that Washington was approved for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, which reimburses municipalities for up to 75% of the cost of qualifying repairs to infrastructure damaged in December’s flooding. Eligible projects include debris removal and repairs to parks, roads and bridges, among others.
“This is reimbursement funding, which is approved project by project,” Ferguson said. “Each jurisdiction applies for public assistance funding through our state Emergency Management Division to FEMA for individual projects.”
An estimated 3,891 homes were damaged by the historic flooding across the region. In January, Ferguson announced an additional $2.5 million in disaster recovery assistance from the state.
Zahilay echoed Ferguson’s remarks, adding that people should apply even if they are unsure whether they qualify.
“If your home, your business, your income or your property was affected by December’s floods, please apply for assistance,” Zahilay said. “Even if you’re unsure whether you qualify, even if you have insurance, apply anyway.”
John Harrison, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for Washington’s declared disaster, said multiple communities and hundreds of individuals have already applied for assistance.
“Communities have submitted 163 requests for public assistance to pay for emergency work and to repair or replace damaged public facilities,” Harrison said. “So far, more than 700 individuals have registered for FEMA assistance and received more than $6.8 million.”
For individuals impacted by the December 2025 flooding, there are multiple ways you can apply for assistance:
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