Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:
“This is great news for flood mitigation efforts in Snohomish County,” said Rep. Larsen. “These federal dollars will help local experts review flood data and the resilience of current flood structures to keep the community safe from future floods. I will keep fighting for funding to help Northwest Washington communities recover from recent natural disasters and prepare for future disasters.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced yesterday that it has approved a $300,000 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant for the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management. The FMA grant will identify cost-effective approaches for future flood mitigation. It will provide funding to review historical flood data throughout Snohomish County, assess the current condition of flood control structures and analyze the highest priority concerns to support future mitigation efforts.
Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management applied for the FMA grant in 2023. The grant was approved in June 2025 but required then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s signature before it could be finalized. Rep. Larsen joined Representatives Suzan DelBene and Kim Schrier in a letter to Secretary Noem last December urging FEMA to finalize the grant.
FEMA also announced yesterday that it approved $930,000 for the City of Enumclaw for culvert design replacement to reduce flooding from the Newaukum Creek and $180,000 for the Washington State Department of Ecology to develop a flood risk reduction strategy to frequently flooded areas. In total, FEMA announced the release of $250 million for over 100 flood mitigation projects nationwide.
Larsen Fights for Flood Mitigation Dollars for Local Communities
Rep. Larsen is the top Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, which has oversight over FEMA. After disastrous flooding in Northwest Washington in November 2021 damaged critical infrastructure and over 2,000 homes, Rep. Larsen joined Washington’s congressional delegation in a letter to then-President Joe Biden to support Governor Jay Inslee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for federal Individual Assistance. Last month, Larsen applauded the release of almost $4 million in FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds to elevate 16 homes in Whatcom County.
More recently, Rep. Larsen has been fighting for federal funds to support Washingtonians whose homes and businesses were damaged in the December 2025 floods. Last month, Rep. Larsen applauded the news that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has made available low interest federal disaster loans to Washington businesses impacted by December’s floods. In February, Rep. Larsen also joined Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation last month in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Ferguson’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance to help repair state infrastructure damaged in December’s historic flooding. In January, Rep. Larsen joined the Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation in supporting Governor Ferguson’s application for federal Individual Assistance to aid survivors. The Major Disaster Declarations for both Public Assistance and Individual Assistance were approved earlier this month.
