Gov. Ferguson says WA will appeal after FEMA denies state's disaster-relief request
Source: The Olympian
Updated April 15, 2025 11:08 AM
Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Monday that Washington will appeal after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied the state’s application for disaster recovery funds to deal with damage from November’s bomb cyclone. The series of intense storms that rocked Washington last fall is estimated to have cause some $34 million in damage and claimed two lives.
In response, outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee declared a disaster across nine counties, including Whatcom, King , Snohomish and Walla Walla counties. After Ferguson took office — and more details emerged about the extent of the damage — he went on to add Clallam and Jefferson counties to the list. Washington met all the qualifying criteria to receive such emergency-relief funds, Ferguson said in an April 14 statement.
“This is another troubling example of the federal government withholding funding,” the Democrat 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. We will appeal.”
In January, Washington asked for federal disaster-relief funds to mend the damage to electrical power systems, as well as public highways and utilities, the Governor’s Office said in a news release. FEMA replied April 11, three months later, rejecting the application without an explanation. In an April 11 letter addressed to “Governor Inslee,” FEMA wrote that based on its review, “it has been determined that supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not warranted.” “Therefore, I must inform you that your request for a major disaster declaration is denied,” the letter says.
Read more: https://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/article304220101.html
From the excerpt -
So intentionally lazy, careless, and vindictive, that they didn't even bother to take the extra step to confirm that a new governor was in office.