As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I am extremely thankful for so many of our community members who have come together to help one another during this difficult time following the bomb cyclone. While the response is ongoing, I want to take a moment to thank all those who played a roll in our recovery. This was the worst storm in 20 years, and I could not be prouder of our community. 

I specifically want to thank our front line workers and emergency responders, King County Parks, King County Roads, King County Solid Waste, King County Emergency Management, Puget Sound Energy, the crews that came from across the Pacific Northwest and Canada, and so many others who have worked nonstop  to restore power and services to the hardest hit communities in our region. I also want to thank Executive Dow Constantine and all of our local mayors and elected officials in District 9. 

While most of King County has had its power restored, many our still dealing with severe damages to homes and property following the storm. As we move to the next phase of this crisis response, please know that my office is here to help you in any way I can. If you have any questions, or there is any way that my office can be of help to you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! 

I hope you have time with family and friends this weekend to rest and give thanks.  

Yesterday, my and Councilmember Sarah Perry’s joint legislation to reimburse expenses and alleviate permitting issues following the bomb cyclone was referred to committee. I’m thankful to have this legislation move forward in an expedited manner and will continue to update you on its progress.  

The nonpartisan legislation focuses on two significant challenges for residents who suffered the worst of the storm damage. First, the legislation calls for the creation of expedited permitting decisions from King County for home, farm and business repairs stemming from the storm. The cost of the permits would be absorbed by King County. Second, King County is directed to expand its grant program for residents who have incurred out of pocket living expenses as a result of extended power outages. These expenses could include fuel for generators, short term hotel charges, food spoilage, dump tipping fees, tree and branch removal and other storm related expenses. The grant program would also help those who may have been uninsured and underinsured for certain storm damage. 

This past week, I have been advocating for state and federal support to help residents recover from the bomb cyclone, and you can help as well. King County homeowners or business owners are encouraged to report damages due to the storm. These reports will help local and state officials determine whether Washington will be eligible for federal disaster assistance. Assessments can take weeks to complete, so these reports can help officials move more quickly to apply for aid.  

This comes after yesterday’s meeting with King County Emergency Management, Washington’s Emergency Management Division, and city leaders in King County. Washington state officials will be working with local governments to assess damages and determine whether the damage to public or private property meets the thresholds for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  

Over the coming weeks, I will continue to advocate for additional resources and support from the both the State and the Federal Government. 

King County is providing certain resources for property owners who have experienced damage. These include: 

• Possible property tax relief 

• Debris and yard waste collection 

State support services include: 

• Spoiled food replacement for SNAP recipients. Clients must file a claim within 10 days of loss. Clients can also request replacement benefits at a mobile office event. There will be events in Redmond on Friday, December 1 and in Federal Way on December 4. 

• Unemployment insurance on standby status. If your employer must temporarily reduce your hours or you are laid off due to damage to their business caused by a natural disaster, you may be eligible for unemployment and placed under standby until your full employment resumes. 

• Information for homeowners about filing damage claims. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner has information for homeowners dealing with fallen trees, car damage or other property damages. 

• King County Road Alerts 

• ALERT King County 

• King County Emergency Management’s Emergency Blog 

• Real-time Travel Data from WSDOT 

• Extra help on horizon for King County residents recovering from bomb cyclone 

• Western Washington windstorm victims may qualify for disaster and tax relief. Here's what to know 

• King County Council members propose relief for bomb cyclone victims | Washington | thecentersquare.com 

• How to report storm damage from Western WA’s bomb cyclone