Larsen joins entire WA delegation in supporting governor’s request for major disaster declaration to unlock individual assistance for WA flooding victims

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN |||

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Washington state’s entire congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Bob Ferguson’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance to help repair state infrastructure damaged in December’s historic flooding. Preliminary damage assessments performed in partnership with FEMA over the past two months estimate damage totaling $182.3 million. This is the second of two Major Disaster Declaration requests from Governor Ferguson. 

“As members of the Washington state delegation, we write in support of Washington state’s February 18 request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance due to devastating flood damages incurred from December 5 through 22. We implore you to approve the request for assistance as quickly as possible,” Larsen and the other members of the delegation wrote. “The surge of rain in Washington state strained the state’s aging infrastructure, resulting in several levee breaches, leaving residents vulnerable to dangerous floods. In the middle of the night, residents of the city of Pacific were forced to quickly evacuate after a levee failed along the White River. While state and county officials have worked quickly to reinforce the breached sections, these are short-term solutions that leave our communities at risk of future extreme weather events.” 

From early to mid-December 2025, severe storms and devastating flooding battered Washington state, threatening critical infrastructure as well as lives, property, businesses, and livestock across the state. The flooding caused severe damage that wreaked havoc in communities across Washington state, and is among the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit the state.  

“An initial damage assessment revealed extensive and widespread damage to critical infrastructure and local economies. Highway 2, one of the two major year-round connections between eastern and western Washington state through the Cascade Mountains, suffered several washouts of the roadway which temporarily closed access along the corridor. Extensive repairs led by the Washington State Department of Transportation allowed for a partial reopening, but 14 miles of the highway in Tumwater Canyon will remain closed for months. The only available local detour has been reduced to one-lane due to slope failures, and any cross-state detour to I-90 would add several hours per trip. Thousands of residents and businesses call the Highway 2 corridor home and are negatively impacted by the damage of these storms, not to mention the hundreds of farmers and producers that rely on Highway 2 as a gateway to access the seaports along Puget Sound,” the Members continued. 

Joining Rep. Larsen in the letter to President Trump were Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03), Dan Newhouse (R, WA-04), Michael Baumgartner (R, WA-05), Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10).  

“This extreme weather event has put significant stress on Washington state’s infrastructure, emergency response teams, and communities across the state. Throughout this crisis, state, local, Tribal, and federal first responders have stepped up and worked tirelessly to keep our communities secure,” the delegation concluded. “We are incredibly grateful for their diligent work and careful coordination to keep Washingtonians safe and informed throughout this disaster.”    

If FEMA approves Public Assistance as part of the major disaster declaration, Washington will qualify for grant funding up to 20 percent of the total damage assessment—in this case, a maximum of $36.6 million. Governor Ferguson’s request currently includes Chelan, Grays Harbor, King, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom counties, as well as 15 federally recognized Tribal nations. 

Last month, Rep. Larsen joined the Washington delegation in supporting Governor Ferguson’s application for federal Individual Assistance to aid survivors, which is currently pending approval.  

Back in December, Rep. Larsen joined Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Ferguson’s request for an expedited Emergency Declaration for the devastating storms and severe flooding hitting Washington state—that request was approved.  

The lawmakers’ full letter to President Trump is available HERE and below: 

Dear Mr. President,   

As members of the Washington state delegation, we write in support of Washington state’s February 18 request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance due to devastating flood damages incurred from December 5 through 22. We implore you to approve the request for assistance as quickly as possible. The surge of rain in Washington state strained the state’s aging infrastructure, resulting in several levee breaches, leaving residents vulnerable to dangerous floods. In the middle of the night, residents of the city of Pacific were forced to quickly evacuate after a levee failed along the White River. While state and county officials have worked quickly to reinforce the breached sections, these are short-term solutions that leave our communities at risk of future extreme weather events.   

An initial damage assessment revealed extensive and widespread damage to critical infrastructure and local economies. Highway 2, one of the two major year-round connections between eastern and western Washington state through the Cascade Mountains, suffered several washouts of the roadway which temporarily closed access along the corridor. Extensive repairs led by the Washington State Department of Transportation allowed for a partial reopening, but 14 miles of the highway in Tumwater Canyon will remain closed for months. The only available local detour has been reduced to one-lane due to slope failures, and any cross-state detour to I-90 would add several hours per trip. Thousands of residents and businesses call the Highway 2 corridor home and are negatively impacted by the damage of these storms, not to mention the hundreds of farmers and producers that rely on Highway 2 as a gateway to access the seaports along Puget Sound.   

This extreme weather event has put significant stress on Washington state’s infrastructure, emergency response teams, and communities across the state. Throughout this crisis, state, local, Tribal, and federal first responders have stepped up and worked tirelessly to keep our communities secure. We are incredibly grateful for their diligent work and careful coordination to keep Washingtonians safe and informed throughout this disaster.   

We reiterate our full support for the February 18 request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance. We appreciate you in advance for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.