Severe storms caused flooding in Washington, prompting 1,300 rescues and one death, while flood prevention funds remain delayed despite a court win.

Severe storms from an atmospheric river caused widespread flooding in Washington state, leading to at least 1,300 rescues, one death, and thousands of flooded homes. Federal flood mitigation funds, including nearly $98 million in BRIC grants for projects in Hoquiam and Aberdeen, remain stalled despite a court victory by Washington and 20 other states. The Trump administration attempted to cut $182 million from FEMA’s BRIC program, and a new department policy under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has delayed additional grants, including $31 million in disaster prevention funds. Though these projects wouldn’t have prevented recent storm damage, officials stress that long-term investment is critical for resilience, as every dollar spent on pre-disaster mitigation saves six in recovery costs.