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December 2025 Atmospheric River Flooding State Individual Assistance

In December 2025, a powerful atmospheric river caused widespread flooding across Washington state, damaging homes, businesses and major roadways.

On Dec. 16, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Proclamation 25-07, declaring a state of emergency for this flooding event. The proclamation makes $2.5 million in state funding available to support recovery efforts through Washington state’s Individual Assistance (IA) Program.

Those who suffered damage during the storm are encouraged to submit an Unmet Needs Assessment Form and be considered for a Household Needs Grant through the State IA program to help cover costs associated with immediate recovery needs. The Salvation Army is partnering with the state to help people find assistance.

The state will continue accepting applications through March 2, 2026.

Under state law, the Household Needs Grant through the State IA program opened on Jan. 2 with Extended Sheltering Assistance and Rental Assistance open on Jan. 29.

Those who may be eligible for a Household Needs Grant through the State IA program must:

• Live in an eligible county: King, Lewis, Pierce, Snohomish, Skagit or Whatcom (Additional counties may be added as damage assessments continue);
• 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 suffers major damage (water has reached the electrical outlets on the home’s first floor) by flooding events between Dec. 5 and Dec. 22, 2025.
• A housing unit is defined as a house, apartment, manufactured home, recreational vehicle, readily-fabricated dwelling, houseboat or any other distinctly-separated living space. A living space may qualify as a housing unit if it includes facilities for cooking, eating and sanitation.

How to Submit:

• 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.

How much help is available right now through State IA?

The Household Needs Grant provides one-time financial assistance to help households stabilize after the disaster.

• Available to households with major or destroyed damage to their primary residence
• Intended to help address immediate, basic needs
• Grant amounts are based on household size:

Extended Sheltering Assistance provides temporary, short-term shelter, such as hotel or motel stays, for households who cannot safely return home and do not yet have access to rental housing.

• Designed for immediate housing stability
• Provided for limited periods, with regular reviews (up to 3 weeks)

Rental Assistance helps displaced households secure temporary rental housing while they recover. May help cover:

• Security deposits
• Monthly rent
  • Assistance length depends on household circumstances
  • Eligibility and need are reviewed periodically

Home Replacement Assistance (Recreational & Mobile Housing) provides limited financial assistance to help replace RVs, trailers, campers, or boats that served as a household’s primary residence and were destroyed, rendered unsafe, or deemed unrepairable as a result of the disaster.

This assistance is intended to address unmet housing needs when insurance or other assistance does not fully cover the cost of replacement. Assistance is limited to replacement of the eligible residential unit and is not intended to upgrade, expand, or improve the original dwelling.

Applicants eligible for Home Replacement Assistance may receive up to $15,270 for replacement of their RV, Trailer, Camper, or Boat, and may use it towards a new dwelling.

How do I check my application status?

If you want to check on the status of your submission or connect to a disaster case manager, you have two options:

1. You can submit questions and communicate directly with case managers through the chat on sahelp.org, referencing your application number. Case managers will also use secure chat sent to you via email or text.
2. You can call 833-719-4981, select option 2 to speak to someone about the status of your submission. You will need to have your application number available when you call.

Important Information About Submitting an Unmet Needs Assessment Form:

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 IA 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.

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.

Learn more

• Read the full news release

• Overview of the State Individual Assistance program (PDF)

• Find more help at floodrecovery.wa.gov