Washington advances flood-elevation review for Sumas homes after 2025 storm damage

Washington has advanced environmental review for a program intended to elevate flood-prone single-family homes in Sumas, a step toward reducing future damage as the city continues recovering from severe flooding in December 2025.

The Washington State Department of Commerce published the final notice for the “Sumas Single-Family Elevation” activity on July 27, 2026. The final notice period ran from July 27 through Aug. 3. An early notice for the activity was published July 15, with an early notice period running through July 30.

A step toward flood mitigation

The activity is being administered through Washington’s Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program, known as CDBG-DR. The program uses federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development disaster-recovery funding administered by Washington Commerce.

Commerce describes CDBG-DR funding as support for long-term disaster recovery and mitigation of future hazards. In Sumas, the notices connect the activity to the severe atmospheric-river flooding that struck Washington in 2021. The city also experienced additional severe flooding during the December 2025 winter storm, prompting local and state recovery assistance.

Elevating homes can reduce the risk of repeated flood damage, but the environmental-review notices mark a review step rather than a construction start or final construction authorization. The notices do not identify how many homes will ultimately be selected, the amount awarded per household, the participating property owners or a construction start date.

Recovery assistance continues

The December 2025 flooding affected households and businesses in Sumas and elsewhere in Whatcom County. The Washington governor’s office announced $2.5 million in state disaster assistance for people whose homes were damaged by the flooding. The assistance includes household grants for short-term housing, small home repairs and food replacement, and Whatcom County was identified as eligible.

The City of Sumas has also created a utility-relief fund for residents and businesses affected by the December 2025 winter-storm flood. The city continues to post recovery-related notices and lists an Aug. 10, 2026, City Council meeting.

The home-elevation review is therefore part of a broader recovery effort: immediate assistance for flood-affected households and businesses alongside longer-term work intended to limit damage from future flooding. The next publicly identified date tied to the city’s ongoing recovery notices is the Aug. 10 council meeting.