In November 2021, flooding along the Nooksack River devastated Whatcom County, damaging roads, uprooting families and businesses, and causing the loss of life. The floods were a wakeup call to municipal, county and state officials about the impacts of extreme weather events and the increase in their frequency, according to a news release from state Reps. Peter Abbarno and Joe Timmons.
For decades, Southwest Washington has faced similar challenges from severe flooding in the Chehalis Basin, which has devastated communities and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. In 2016, the Legislature established the Office of the Chehalis Basin to help mitigate flood-related damage and restore aquatic species habitat.
This week, House Bill 2020, a bipartisan bill, sponsored by Timmons, D-Bellingham, and Abbarno, R-Centralia, was put forward in the state Legislature in an effort by the state to better equip and support local communities when natural disasters occur.
“This bill defines public infrastructure assistance and then directs the state’s Emergency Management Division to administer the program,” said Timmons. “This is an important step to ensure that Washington is equipped to help communities rebuild after disasters, whether flooding, wildfires or earthquakes. Our state should assist local governments in rebuilding critical infrastructure that we depend upon so that our communities can receive the support they need when we don’t meet federal government thresholds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
“As someone who lives in and represents the Chehalis Basin, I know this bill will provide a lot of relief for our community members during catastrophic flooding and natural disaster events,” said Abbarno. “The damage caused by catastrophic flooding has been financial, physical, and emotional. This policy will help provide financial support, as well as hope to countless families.”
Public testimony for HB 2020 was heard in the House Innovation, Community and Economic Development and Veterans Committee on Wednesday.
