Federal grants for flood mitigation in Washington state have been put on hold due to a legal dispute, leaving communities vulnerable to future storms. The Trump administration's delay in approving $31 million in disaster prevention grants, as well as its attempt to cancel $182 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has sparked a court battle. This has resulted in a delay in projects aimed at elevating houses, moving people away from flood-prone areas, and protecting homes with new levees.
The recent atmospheric river storms have caused widespread damage, forcing over 1,300 rescues and assisted evacuations, killing one person, and flooding thousands of homes. These storms are expected to become more severe in the future due to global warming, leading to increased precipitation and more intense rainfall.
The Trump administration's decision to end the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which supports state and local resilience projects, has further exacerbated the situation. Washington and over 20 other states have sued to challenge this move, but the money has not been delivered. This has delayed plans to buy and relocate residents from flood-prone mobile home parks and construct setback levees.
The delay in federal funding has also impacted projects in communities like Hoquiam and Aberdeen, where BRIC funding would have helped pay for earthen levees, concrete floodwalls, and raised roadways. The town's economic future is at stake, as the project could save residents millions in construction and insurance costs.
Despite the recent win in the lawsuit over BRIC funding, it is unclear when affected projects will receive their funding or whether the legal battle will continue. The state's Department of Ecology emphasizes the importance of continuing these projects to prepare for future storms, as atmospheric river storms will continue to cause flooding in the state.
