Disaster Data / States / Washington / Whatcom County
CountyWhatcom County, Washington
Whatcom County recorded 14 federal disaster and emergency declarations since FY2000 (through FY2025): 11 major disasters, 2 emergencies, and 1 fire-management declarations. Its most common hazard is severe storm.
The federal disaster record for Whatcom County runs between 2001 and 2022, covering 14 declarations in all. Its most recent major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides in 2022. The hazards behind these declarations were most often severe storm, flood, and fire. Since 2000, FEMA has obligated about $41.5 million in Public Assistance funding to the jurisdiction, most of it for roads and bridges.
Highlighted: Whatcom County, WA
Federal Public Assistance by category
Federal share obligated to this jurisdiction under FEMA Public Assistance since 2000, grouped by damage category. Figures are rounded to the nearest dollar and reflect obligations, which may change as projects close out.
| Category | Projects | Federal share obligated |
|---|---|---|
| Roads and bridges(C) | 107 | $16,315,233 |
| Water control facilities(D) | 22 | $9,155,850 |
| Emergency protective measures(B) | 112 | $6,815,849 |
| Debris removal(A) | 50 | $3,388,797 |
| Utilities(F) | 47 | $2,245,676 |
| Parks and recreation(G) | 37 | $1,724,499 |
| Buildings and equipment(E) | 70 | $1,665,746 |
| Management costs(Z) | 21 | $180,935 |
| All categories | 466 | $41,492,585 |
Most common hazards
- Severe Storm 4
- Flood 4
- Fire 2
- Biological 2
- Earthquake 1
- Coastal Storm 1
Previous occurrences, for your mitigation plan
Every local hazard mitigation plan must document previous occurrences of each hazard. Here is that record for Whatcom County, sourced to OpenFEMA and refreshed weekly. Copy it straight into your plan.
| Hazard | Date | FEMA declaration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 5, 2022 | DR-4635-WA | DR |
| Flood | Apr 23, 2020 | DR-4539-WA | DR |
| Biological | Mar 22, 2020 | DR-4481-WA | DR |
| Biological | Mar 13, 2020 | EM-3427-WA | EM |
| Severe Storm | Mar 4, 2019 | DR-4418-WA | DR |
| Flood | Apr 21, 2017 | DR-4309-WA | DR |
| Fire | Oct 20, 2015 | DR-4243-WA | DR |
| Severe Storm | Oct 15, 2015 | DR-4242-WA | DR |
| Fire | Aug 24, 2015 | FM-5109-WA | FM |
| Severe Storm | Mar 2, 2009 | DR-1825-WA | DR |
| Flood | Jan 30, 2009 | DR-1817-WA | DR |
| Coastal Storm | Sep 7, 2005 | EM-3227-WA | EM |
| Severe Storm | Nov 7, 2003 | DR-1499-WA | DR |
| Earthquake | Mar 1, 2001 | DR-1361-WA | DR |
Every declaration on record
DR = Major disaster (Stafford Act) · EM = Emergency declaration · FM = Fire management assistance
Showing 14 declarations
| Date | Number | Type | Hazard | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5, 2022 | DR-4635-WA | DR | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| Apr 23, 2020 | DR-4539-WA | DR | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| Mar 22, 2020 | DR-4481-WA | DR | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| Mar 13, 2020 | EM-3427-WA | EM | Biological | Covid-19 |
| Mar 4, 2019 | DR-4418-WA | DR | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, Tornado |
| Apr 21, 2017 | DR-4309-WA | DR | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| Oct 20, 2015 | DR-4243-WA | DR | Fire | Wildfires And Mudslides |
| Oct 15, 2015 | DR-4242-WA | DR | Severe Storm | Severe Windstorm |
| Aug 24, 2015 | FM-5109-WA | FM | Fire | Goodell Fire |
| Mar 2, 2009 | DR-1825-WA | DR | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow |
| Jan 30, 2009 | DR-1817-WA | DR | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, And Flooding |
| Sep 7, 2005 | EM-3227-WA | EM | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| Nov 7, 2003 | DR-1499-WA | DR | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| Mar 1, 2001 | DR-1361-WA | DR | Earthquake | Earthquake |
How these numbers are built
Drawn from FEMA's OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, rebuilt each week. A declaration is counted here once for each designated area it names, so a single disaster covering many localities is counted in each one. For that reason these jurisdiction counts do not sum to Washington's statewide total. This page counts declarations that named this jurisdiction as a designated area. Totals cover complete fiscal years (Oct 1 to Sep 30); the in-progress year may appear in the most-recent list but is not counted in the totals. Uses OpenFEMA data but is not endorsed by or affiliated with FEMA.