Eligible projects include property elevation and relocation for buildings impacted by floods, coastal storms, more
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced that Washington state is eligible for up to $20 million in funding to reduce flood risks through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Swift Current Program. The program is designed to get resources to communities impacted by flood-related disasters as soon as possible. Murray and Cantwell secured funding for the Swift Current Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law they helped pass in 2021.
“With rising sea levels and increasingly frequent extreme storms, flooding has unfortunately become a new normal in Washington state,” said Senator Murray. “Securing the resources families and communities need to become more resilient to flooding—especially as climate change worsens the frequency and severity of flooding—continues to be a top priority for me as the Appropriations Chair. This announcement is a good step forward for communities in Washington state that are vulnerable to flooding, and I encourage all eligible applicants to apply through FEMA.”
“Extreme storms and flooding are becoming more frequent in our state, so we must take steps to safeguard lives and property. These smart investments are coming at the right time to help communities bolster their flood protections,” said Senator Cantwell
Projects eligible for funding include property acquisition, demolition, elevation and relocation. To be eligible, buildings must be insured through the National Flood Insurance Program, and meet the Swift Current activation criteria, including having a major disaster declaration for a flood-related disaster event beginning June 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024. A flood-related disaster event includes coastal storms, hurricanes, remnants of hurricanes and floods. Additional criteria may be found on FEMA.gov.
All eligible applicants must submit their fiscal year 2023 Swift Current grant applications to FEMA via MT eGrants. Upon Swift Current activation, FEMA will provide the application deadline to the applicant. Potential applicants who have questions may contact a Washington state FEMA regional office.
Senators Murray and Cantwell were leaders in passing both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests nearly $3 billion in funding to strengthen coastal infrastructure and climate resilience across the country, and the Inflation Reduction Act—which provided $3.3 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support the agency’s climate, habitat restoration, and fisheries missions.