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FEMA Denies Washington State Disaster Aid After Deadly Bomb Cyclone

Despite meeting federal criteria, Washington's relief application was rejected as state officials prepare to appeal the decision within 30 days.

Brett Gordon of Seattle points to where a large branch sheared from a tree during Tuesday night's bomb cyclone weighing down power lines in the Wedgwood neighborhood of Seattle, Wed. Nov. 20, 2024.
FILE - A crew cuts a tree that fell on a Taco Bell restaurant on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in Issaquah, Wash., after a "bomb cyclone" storm brought high winds to the area. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes,File)
FILE - People walk by a minivan hit by a tree that fell during a "bomb cyclone" storm in Issaquah, Wash., Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes,File)
FILE - A man looks at a tree that fell on power lines during a major storm in Issaquah, Wash., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes,File)

Overview

  • The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied Washington state's request for disaster relief funds following a November bomb cyclone that caused $34 million in damages and two fatalities.
  • State officials, including Governor Bob Ferguson, confirmed that the application met all federal eligibility criteria but was deemed 'not warranted' without further explanation.
  • The storm, classified as a bomb cyclone, caused extensive damage to public infrastructure, including highways and utilities, and led to widespread power outages.
  • Washington has 30 days to appeal the decision, and officials plan to update damage estimates in their challenge to FEMA's ruling.
  • The denial comes as the Trump administration considers overhauling or eliminating FEMA, reflecting broader debates over federal disaster response policies.