Bomb cyclone aftermath: King County homeowners still waiting on federal aid

SEATTLE - A month after a bomb cyclone hit the region, many residents of the Mirrormont neighborhood outside of Issaquah continue to deal with significant damage and a lengthy recovery process.

The storm, which brought hurricane-force winds, caused widespread destruction, leaving nearly half a million people without power in King County alone. For many homeowners, the struggle is far from over, with repairs and recovery costs adding up, and the hope of federal aid still uncertain.

Cathy Cadd, a homeowner in Mirrormont, described how the storm severely impacted her property.

"We have stacks and stacks of debris everywhere," Cadd said. "We lost 13 trees, and it’s just changed the whole backyard."

Two of those trees crashed through her living room the night of the storm. Despite the significant destruction, Cadd’s insurance has limitations. She says her insurance provider will only cover the cost of removing the trees from her home and car.

"It’s been a big nightmare, and it just feels like a nightmare every day," Cadd said. "We could sure use some help."

The cleanup effort has been slow. Cadd and her family were forced to spend 11 days in a hotel. Debris blocked mail carriers from making deliveries for nearly a month. Within just the last few days, an uprooted tree caused a break in her septic system.

"We just kind of feel left out up here," she said. "It’s just not high on anybody’s list."

Crews have worked tirelessly through cold and rain to tarp up Cadd’s house, but a tarp still covers her roof. "We’re not doing Christmas this year," said Cadd. "None of us are in the mood for Christmas. We weren’t in the mood for Thanksgiving, either."

Cadd is hopeful that federal aid will help cover some of the recovery costs, but the path to assistance is uncertain. Last week, the governor’s office requested an extension from FEMA to complete damage assessments of public infrastructure. If approved, the assessment process will be extended until January 24. However, even if King County meets FEMA’s thresholds for assistance, there is no guarantee that homeowners or businesses will qualify for federal aid.

"Why’s it taking so long?" Cadd asked. "I don’t know how these things work, but other states have done it just like that, and for some reason here, we’re a month later and still nothing."

According to the Governor’s Office, Washington State will need to assess at least $14.5 million total in damages to public infrastructure. However, counties also have individual thresholds to qualify for a piece of the pie. Whatcom County will need to record at least $1 million in damages. King County has to record at least $10.7 million in damages. Weeks ago, King County Emergency Management reported initial damage assessments surpassed that amount. The Governor’s office has to verify the information.

Maple Valley is one of the local cities working to assess the damage left by the storm. City officials say they're not sure if King County will meet the necessary criteria for assistance, but they are submitting their costs. They also mentioned that it's tough for smaller cities with limited resources to handle all the detailed paperwork and cost tracking required.

Another city, reeling from the impacts is Issaquah. City officials there tell FOX 13 Seattle to this day, crews are still discovering new points of damage. Sunday, a tree fell over on Issaquah Creek. They believe this is linked to damage the tree suffered during the storm. The city is concerned with debris building up in creek corridors and along trails.

The city anticipates remaining in cleanup mode until at least January. Noting they will not reveal the total amount of damage until that has wrapped. The city asks anyone who notices destruction to report it on the city’s website.

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