Flooding assistance now open to residents hit in Pierce, Lewis counties
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- State opens Individual Assistance for Pierce and Lewis homes.
- Household Needs Grants require residence in eligible counties.
- Apply at sahelp.org or call 833-719-4981; in-person centers open in Snohomish and Whatcom.
If you live in Pierce or Lewis counties and your home was damaged during the December floods, you can now apply for disaster assistance.
According to a news release from the governor’s office, the state’s Individual Assistance Program has officially opened to those with flood damage in Pierce and Lewis counties. Residents in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties have been eligible for this assistance since December. The funding stems from $3.5 million that Gov. Bob Ferguson unlocked with his Dec. 16 emergency proclamation.
The Washington State Emergency Management Division is partnering with the Salvation Army to issue Household Needs Grants. To qualify for this grant, residents must meet the following qualifications:
- Live in Pierce, King, Lewis, Snohomish, Skagit or Whatcom counties.
- Earn 80% or less of the area median gross income, based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Show that their primary residence was destroyed or “seriously damaged” by flooding between Dec. 5 and Dec. 22, 2025. A home is considered “seriously damaged” if the water reached electrical outlets on the structure’s first floor.
According to a post from the Governor’s Office, household need grants “help cover costs associated with recovery to include short-term housing, small home repairs, and food replacement.”
After a resident applies for the grant, a case manager from the Salvation Army will contact them to talk about their situation and discuss available recovery assistance. Grant amounts depend on household size.
To apply, visit sahelp.org or call 833-719-4981. You can also visit one of the two disaster assistance centers, which are located in Snohomish and Whatcom counties:
- Snohomish County: Volunteers of America Western Washington Sky Valley Center at 617 First St. in Sultan. Open on Sunday, Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Whatcom County: Nooksack Valley Middle School at 404 W. Columbia St. Open on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 15 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
To learn more about recovery assistance, visit floodrecovery.wa.gov.
