FEMA rejects disaster aid for Washington and North Carolina

Office of the Governor

The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied requests for disaster recovery funding from Washington and North Carolina.

Both states were struck hard by natural disasters in the fall.

Washington was pummeled by a bomb cyclone in November that brought winds up to 77 mph and heavy rains knocking out power for more than 600,000 people and causing two deaths from felled trees.

Then-Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in January, allocating $1 million in state funding and asking the federal government to declare nine counties a federal major disaster and provide $34 million in recovery funding. Gov. Bob Ferguson, who took office in January, added Clallam and Jefferson counties to the disaster declaration request.

"There are very clear criteria to qualify for these emergency relief funds," Ferguson said in a statement Monday. "Washington's application met all of them."

The state's application asked for funding to repair damage to public highways, public utilities and electrical power systems. FEMA denied the request without explanation in a letter the governor said he received Friday.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein had requested a 180-day extension for 100% reimbursement of disaster recovery costs from when Hurricane Helene walloped the state in September. FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton denied the request in a letter Stein received Friday.

Stein said in a statement he received the denial notice "while he was in Newland with families who lost their homes in the storm."

"The need in western North Carolina remains immense — people need debris removed, homes rebuilt, and roads restored," Stein said. "I am extremely disappointed and urge the President to reconsider FEMA's bad decision, even for 90 days."

Western North Carolina suffered an estimated $59.6 billion in damage when Hurricane Helene struck the southeast in September, according to North Carolina's Office of State Budget and Management. Flooding and landslides caused by rain, winds and tornadoes made it one of the deadliest U.S. storms of the century with 100 confirmed deaths in North Carolina alone, according to the OSBM report.

President Joe Biden declared a major disaster and FEMA had designated 39 counties in North Carolina for federal disaster assistance and offered 100% reimbursement for 180 days.

Stein requested an additional $19 billion in disaster recovery aid in a letter to President Trump and Congress in February. The state had already received $3.17 billion in federal funding, according to the letter.

FEMA is among the federal agencies weakened by the Trump administration firings and layoffs. The president has threatened to abolish the agency considered essential to the recovery of state and local government credits following a natural disaster.

"This is another troubling example of the federal government withholding funding," Ferguson said. "Washington communities have been waiting for months for the resources they need to fully recover from last winter's devastating storms, and this decision will cause further delay."

The governors — both Democrats — said they intend to appeal the decisions.