FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR WASHINGTON SURVIVORS OF FLOODING AND MUDSLIDES

A legal hotline is now available for survivors of the severe

storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in Clallam, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties and the

Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Quileute Tribe. Disaster survivors facing legal issues

related to the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides may call the hotline at 509-557-

0301. Callers may also leave a message.

The service, which allows callers to receive limited legal assistance from a volunteer lawyer, is a

partnership between the Washington State Bar Association, the American Bar Association Young

Lawyers Division (ABA YLD), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The type of legal assistance available includes:

• Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster

survivors;

• Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims;

• Help with home repair contracts and contractors;

• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the

disaster;

• Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures;

• Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems;

• Counseling on landlord-tenant problems.

Survivors should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example,

assistance is not available for cases that will produce a money award.

Major Disaster Declaration

On January 5, 2022, a Major Disaster Declaration was issued for the state of Washington, making

federal funding available to individuals and households who sustained damage as a result of the

flooding and mudslides occurring November 13-15, 2021, in Clallam, Skagit, and Whatcom

Counties and the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Quileute Tribe.

To register with FEMA, and if eligible, apply for federal and state disaster assistance, register

online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov.

Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY) seven days a week from 4:00 a.m.

to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Applicants should be prepared to provide basic information about

themselves, insurance coverage, and any other information to help substantiate the loss.