SULTAN—People whose homes were damaged by flooding in December can come to a Disaster Assistance Center for help learning about and potentially applying for state assistance or other resources.
Snohomish County has partnered with Volunteers of America Western Washington to host a disaster assistance and resource center at the Sky Valley Center, 617 1st Street in Sultan. The center will include representatives from multiple organizations who can provide guidance and support to those impacted by the flooding.
“The impacts from a flood emergency can last long after the water recedes, especially for those whose homes were damaged,” Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said. “If your property was damaged by flooding and you are looking for information and assistance, I encourage you to attend one of the events next week.”
The center will be open:
- Sunday, Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“The historic flooding that occurred in December caused catastrophic damage for many of our residents,” Snohomish County Councilmember Sam Low said. “This center will aid in the consolidation of information and resources, making it simpler for people to find the assistance they need. I’m continuously grateful for our partnership with Volunteers of America Western Washington, and their commitment to finding ways to help.”
Gov. Bob Ferguson last week announced that $2.5 million is available to help those who are eligible for individual assistance through the state. These state grants can help cover costs associated with flood recovery like short-term housing, small home repairs, and food replacement. People can apply in-person at a Disaster Assistance Center, online at the Salvation Army website (sahelp.org), or by phone at 833-719-4981.
For those who are uncertain if they are eligible or who are not eligible for the state grants, there will be more information and other resources at the Disaster Assistance Center. This includes vouchers to dispose of flood-damaged household items at no charge at Snohomish County solid waste facilities, as well as in-person help filling out the county’s flood damage survey.
“We know that people who experienced flooding in Snohomish County face significant challenges and that navigating next steps can seem overwhelming,” Emergency Management Director Lucia Schmit said. “That’s why we are joining partners in bringing resources together in one place. We all want to do what we can to make recovery easier for our residents.”
Snohomish County still is gathering flood damage information using the survey, which can be found online at https://bit.ly/SnoCo-Damage-Report in English and Spanish. Snohomish County residents whose properties were damaged by flooding also can call 425-388-5060 to get assistance with the survey over the phone.
More than 150 people have responded to the survey so far, reporting potentially millions in total damage to private property. Final numbers are not yet available from the survey results. Information gathered from the survey is being used to help with the state request for federal disaster assistance, to better understand flood impacts in Snohomish County, and to communicate assistance opportunities directly to those who have reported damage.
At this time, Snohomish County also is working to assess total flood damage to public infrastructure throughout the county and will provide that information to the state later this month. Those assessments are ongoing and an estimate is not yet available. The state is coordinating the request for federal disaster assistance. It is unknown at this time if or how much federal assistance may be made available.
Multiple river systems in the county reached record high levels in December, inundating roads, fields, farms, businesses, and neighborhoods. Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers issued an emergency proclamation on December 9. More information including additional resources for those impacted by flooding, guidance on cleaning up after a flood, and donation information for those who want to help is available at https://bit.ly/snocoflooding.
Source: Snohomish County Government
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
