Disaster Assistance
Washington has experienced many presidentially-declared major disasters (PDF). It's important to note that every county in our state has at some point suffered from a major disaster.
When the President declares a major disaster, individuals, families and government agencies — including state agencies, local governments (counties, cities, towns, special purpose districts) and federally-recognized tribal governments, as well as certain private non-profits may be eligible for disaster assistance.
Individuals and households may also be eligible for federal help following a disaster. The Emergency Management Division Individuals and Households Program and FEMA jointly administer programs so individuals and households may begin to apply for assistance immediately.
Additionally, the Small Business Administration makes it low interest loan programs available to qualifying businesses and private non-profit organizations that have suffered damages.
The Declaration Process
The Stafford Act (§401) requires that: "All requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State." A State also includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia are also eligible to request a declaration and receive assistance. Visit FEMA’s How a Disaster Gets Declared website for more information.
The Governor's request is made through the regional FEMA office. State and Federal officials conduct a preliminary damage assessment (PDA) to estimate the extent of the disaster and its impact on individuals and public facilities. This information is included in the Governor's request to show that the disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the local governments and that Federal assistance is necessary. Normally, the PDA is completed prior to the submission of the Governor's request. However, when an obviously severe or catastrophic event occurs, the Governor's request may be submitted prior to the PDA. Nonetheless, the Governor must still make the request.
More information is available on disaster assistance provided for:
- Government
- Households
- And general Recovery information
Recent Presidentially-declared disasters:
Declared March 29, 2022 | Major DR-4650-WA | Chehalis Indian Reservation, Chelan (County), Clallam (County), Cowlitz (County), Franklin (County), Grays Harbor (County), Hoh Indian Reservation, Jefferson (County), Klickitat (County), Lewis (County), Mason (County), Nisqually Indian Reservation, Okanogan (County), Pacific (County), Quinault Indian Reservation, Shoalwater Bay Reservation, Skagit (County), Skamania (County), Skokomish Indian Reservation, Squaxin Island Indian Reservation, Swinomish Indian Reservation, Thurston (County), Upper Skagit Indian Reservation, Wahkiakum (County) |
Declared Jan. 5, 2022 | Major DR-4635 | Clallam (County), Hoh Indian Reservation, Island (County), Jefferson (County), Lewis (County), Lummi Indian Reservation, Nooksack Indian Reservation, Quileute Indian Reservation, San Juan (County), Skagit (County), Swinomish Indian Reservation, Whatcom (County) |
Declared July 21, 2021 | Major 4631-DR-Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation | Colville Indian Reservation |
Declared April 4, 2021 | Major 4593-DR-WA | Clallam (County), Columbia (County), Cowlitz (County), Grays Harbor (County), Island (County), Jefferson (County), Klickitat (County), Lewis (County), Mason (County), Okanogan (County), Pacific (County), Pend Oreille (County), Puyallup Indian Reservation, Skagit (County), Skamania (County), Snohomish (County), Spokane (County), Wahkiakum (County) |
Declared Feb. 4, 2021 | Major 4584-DR-WA | Colville Indian Reservation, Douglas (County), Ferry (County), Franklin (County), Kittitas (County), Lincoln (County), Okanogan (County), Pend Oreille (County), Skamania (County), Whitman (County), Yakama Reservation, Yakima (County) |
Declared April 23, 2020 | Major 4539-DR-WA | Columbia (County), Garfield (County), Grays Harbor (County), Island (County), King (County), Lewis (County), Mason (County), Pacific (County), San Juan (County), Skagit (County), Snohomish (County), Thurston (County), Wahkiakum (County), Walla Walla (County), Whatcom (County) |
Declared March 22, 2020 | Major DR-4481-WA | ALL |
Declared March 4, 2019 | Major DR-4418-WA | Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific, Snohomish and Whatcom |
Declared Aug. 18, 2017 | Major DR-4384-WA | Colville Indian Reservation |
Declared April 21, 2017 | Major DR-4309-WA | Adams, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Grant, Lewis, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Spokane, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom |
| Declared Feb. 2, 2016 | Major 4253-DR-WA | Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties |
Declared Jan. 15, 2016 | Major 4249-DR-WA | Chelan, Clallam, Garfield, Island, Jefferson, Kittitas, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Wahkiakum and Whitman counties |
Declared Oct. 20, 2015 | Major 4243-DR-WA | Chelan, Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Whatcom and Yakima counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation |
Declared Oct. 15, 2015 | Major 4242-DR-WA | Island, Jefferson and Snohomish counties |
Declared | Major 4188-DR-WA | Chelan and Okanogan counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation |
Declared | Major 4168-DR-WA | Sauk-Suiattle Indian Reservation, Snohomish County, Stillaguamish Indian Reservation and Tulalip Indian Reservation |
Declared | Major 4083-DR-WA | Ferry and Okanogan counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation |
Declared | Major 4056-DR-WA | Clallam County, Grays Harbor County, King County, Klickitat County, Lewis County, Mason County, Pierce County, Skamania County, Snohomish County, Thurston County and Wahkiakum County. |
Declared | Major 1963-DR-WA | Klickitat, Kittitas, King, Lewis, Skagit, Skamania, Wahkiakum (PA only) |
Declared | Major 1825-DR-WA | Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clark, Cowlitz, Columbia, Clallam, Ferry, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Pacific, Pend Orielle, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Spokane, Snohomish, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima (PA only) |
Declared | Major 1817-DR-WA | Benton, Chelan, Cowlitz, Columbia, Clallam, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Yakima |
Declared | Major 1734-DR-WA | IA: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Kitsap, King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, Snohomish, Wahkiakum PA: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, Skagit, Snohomish, Wahkiakum |
Declared | Major 1682-DR-WA | Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum (PA Only) |
Declared | Major 1671-DR-WA | Chelan, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum |
Declared | Major 1641-DR-WA | Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, San Juan, Snohomish, Wahkiakum (PA Only) |
