Federal government denies hazard mitigation aid to state after historic December flooding

SEATTLE — The federal government has denied Washington a hazard mitigation grant that the state requested as part of its response to the historic December flooding.

The federal government granted the state a major disaster declaration. That authorized individual assistance in 10 counties and public assistance in 23 counties.

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But in this letter to Governor Bob Ferguson, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denies the state’s request for the hazard mitigation grant program statewide, that program would help the state build up necessary infrastructure, like flood levees.

In the letter, though, Associate Administrator for the Office of Response and Recovery, Gregg Phillips, said that the grant is “not warranted.”

In a statement, U.S. Representative Rick Larson (WA-02) calls the decision “unacceptable,” and said that “the disaster declaration helps people recover from the last flood, but hazard mitigation helps people survive the next flood.”

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The state does have about 30 days to submit more supporting information and appeal the decision.