Inspectors check out flood-hit Whatcom County

BELLINGHAM — State flood-damage inspectors are in northwest Washington’s Whatcom County this week to formally assess the level of damage and the dollar impact from severe flooding after days of rain fueled by an atmospheric river last week in the region.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said the teams are from the Emergency Management Division of the Washington State Military Department. They will gather data to confirm information collected by communities to determine damage and help justify the requested federal aid, The Bellingham Herald reported.

The Red Cross was still operating two shelters that were housing a few dozen people north of Seattle in Hamilton and Lynden as of Monday.

Gov. Jay Inslee also changed his severe weather damage emergency proclamation Friday to make emergency cash assistance available to people in the storm-affected 14 counties.

The small city of Sumas, close to the Canada border, was coordinating cleanup efforts after floodwaters damaged an estimated 85 percent of the residences.

Police in nearby Everson said Saturday on Facebook that over 600 volunteers in Everson and Nooksack and 500 in Sumas helped with flood cleanup.

“We helped clean up over 170 homes, eclipsed 300 tons of waste disposed of, and made a big dent in the work that was needed to start the rebuilding process,” the police Facebook post said.