Atmospheric River Storm Guide and Resources

I am continuing to monitor conditions in the Eighth District as severe weather impacts our community. My office will continue to update this page as additional resources become available.

FOR EMERGENCIES, CALL 911 OR TEXT SHELTER to 4FEMA (43362)

If you are currently displaced by flooding, call 211 for help and support

General Resources 


Federal Disaster Assistance

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to Washington businesses, private nonprofits and residents to offset physical and economic losses from the 2025 Severe Winter Storms occurring Dec. 5 — 22, 2025. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Bob Ferguson.

The declaration covers the Washington counties of Chelan, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom and Yakima.

Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP)organizations including faith-based organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.875% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

“Through an agency declaration, SBA provides financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We offer disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits affected by the disaster.”

As soon as Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The deadline to return physical damage applications is April 27. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 24.


State Disaster Assistance

Washingtonians whose homes were damaged in the floods are able to apply for state assistance to help with their immediate needs. 

Those who suffered damage during the storm are encouraged to submit an Unmet Needs Assessment Form. Impacted individuals should visit SAHelp.org and enter their zip code to start the process. After filling out the form, case managers will determine eligibility for Household Needs Grants, which help cover costs associated with recovery to include short-term housing, small home repairs, and food replacement. The Salvation Army is partnering with the state to help people find assistance. In-person assistance is available at Disaster Assistance Centers (DACs), listed below.

Those who may be eligible for a Household Needs Grants must:

  • Live in an eligible county – Currently King, Snohomish, Skagit, or Whatcom;
  • Earn 80 percent or less of the area median gross income, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
  • Show that their primary residence was destroyed or seriously damaged (water has reached the electrical outlets on the home’s first floor) by flooding events between December 5 and December 22, 2025.

The state may add more eligible counties as damage assessments are completed. Grants are based on household size, up to the maximums listed below:

The state may add more eligible counties as damage assessments are completed. Grants are based on household size, up to the maximums listed below:

WA Flood Income Limits

Important Information About Applying:

Unmet Needs Assessment Forms are submitted through SAHelp.org, by phone, or in person at Disaster Assistance Centers (DACs) in local areas. Submitting the form does not automatically mean an individual or household will receive state funding. Additional verification will be required.

After the form is submitted, a Salvation Army Disaster Case Manager will contact the resident to review their situation and identify available recovery assistance. This support may include local, state, federal, nonprofit, and donated resources.

How to Apply:

  • Online: Salvation Army website at sahelp.org
  • By phone: 833-719-4981
  • In person: visit a Disaster Assistance Center in the county in which a resident lives

Those who submit the form will be asked to provide supporting documents to complete their application. Click here to see a list of acceptable documentation.

At the same time, local and state officials are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to complete a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment for Individual and Public Assistance. This process will verify damages and determine whether the state has met various indicators required for FEMA’s Individual and Public Assistance programs. If indicators are met, the governor could request a federal Major Disaster Declaration, which would open the door to additional help for both individual households and public agencies and infrastructure.

Disaster Assistance Center locations:

King County:

  • Auburn Library (1102 Auburn Way S) – Friday, Jan. 2 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Saturday, Jan. 3 (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
  • King County Library System Administrative Office (960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah) – Sunday, Jan. 4 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
  • Carnation Library (4804 Tolt Ave) – Monday, Jan. 5 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Snohomish County:

Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOA-WW) and Snohomish County are hosting a disaster assistance and resource center.

  • VOA-WW Sky Valley Center (617 1st St, Sultan)
  • Sunday, January 11 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.);
  • Tuesday, January 13 (2 p.m. to 8 p.m.);
  • Wednesday, January 14 (2 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

Additional Disaster Assistance Center locations are planned for Skagit and Whatcom counties the second week of January. More information to come.

Current Road Maps and Outage Updates

County Resources

Snohomish County

Pierce County

King County

Chelan County

Kittitas County

Flood Insurance Claim and Disaster Relief Resources 

FEMA Quick Resources
Starting Your Claim
Recovering From a Flood
Additional NFIP Resources
Washington DC Office
1110 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC  20515
Phone: (202) 225-7761
Wenatchee District Office
301 Yakima Street
Suite 329
Wenatchee, WA  98801
Phone: (509) 850-5340
Issaquah District Office
22500 SE 64th Pl
Suite 226
Issaquah, WA  98027
Phone: (425) 657-1001