Part 2 of a three-part series looks at recent local flooding events that made state history.
December 2025’s record rainfall in Northwest Washington left low-income and mobile-home communities especially vulnerable, with many losing their homes, possessions and sense of security.
In December, rising waters from the Nooksack River forced evacuations in Sumas, Everson and Nooksack, prompting local and state officials to declare a statewide emergency as communities battled historic flood levels. While waters began to recede days later, damage assessments, housing displacement and recovery efforts stretched into the new year.
The flooding left hundreds of residents facing damaged or uninhabitable homes, disrupted employment and uncertain housing futures. For undocumented and low-income residents, the disaster carried additional layers of difficulty. Fear of shelters, language barriers and uncertainty about accessing government assistance made the crisis even more daunting.
Among those who joined the response was Richard Peterson, a longtime Whatcom County resident with experience in construction. Peterson joined after seeing a volunteer call posted on the Nextdoor app, which directed residents to the flood response effort coordinated through Everson Fire District 1, with support from BP refinery. He said he gravitated toward hands-on cleanup, spent time clearing out water-logged installations under mobile homes in Everson and was left with images that lingered even after the physical labor ended.
While the manual labor was demanding, the emotional impact of work lingered as well. As removing soaked insulation beneath homes continued, Peterson said what stood out most was the uncertainty he saw in residents.
“The looks on their faces that I saw was the unknown, not knowing what’s gonna happen beyond the cleanup,” Peterson said.
Peterson also noted that many residents in the area, which includes a significant number of Hispanic immigrants, were either renting independently, living in informal rental arrangements under someone else’s name, or living in older mobile homes — raising concerns about whether insurance or landlords would cover repairs or provide alternative housing. The uncertainty, he said, was visible in residents’ expressions, even as they expressed appreciation for the help being offered.
Networks of assistance
Across Whatcom County, the flood response relied heavily on community-based coordination. This included networking among the American Red Cross, Whatcom Community Foundation, local fire departments and independent volunteers who worked alongside refinery teams to assist with evacuation and emergency needs.
Organizations such as Whatcom Long-Term Recovery Group worked through trusted community contacts to connect affected people — including those without documentation — with emergency resources while prioritizing safety and confidentiality.
Ashley Butenschoen, vice president of the Whatcom County Long-Term Recovery Group, said the organization began tracking impacts as flooding spread across Sumas, Nooksack and Everson during the December disaster period. The group transitioned from immediate response to longer-term recovery efforts as conditions stabilized.
“There has been word out there that there may be individuals or groups of people who are worried about coming forward to say that they need help, maybe because of documentation status,” Butenschoen said. “But we feel that we have broken that barrier and we help anyone at any time, neighbors are neighbors, we don’t ask questions.”
Butenschoen’s assurances reflect a broader approach among disaster relief organizations in Whatcom County. This has included multilingual outreach and partnerships with community organizations already embedded in affected neighborhoods, like sending case workers to areas such as Sumas Advent Christian Church to assist and keep track of residents who may need assistance.
The Red Cross also played a central role in the county’s flood response, focusing on comfort and hospitality during floods.
“We don’t ask for immigration documents or anything in those lines,” said Hope Marozwa, community disaster program specialist for the American Red Cross Northwest Washington Chapter. “Our assistance is open to everyone.”
Red Cross focused on sheltering, evacuating and basic necessities, working closely with community partners, including churches, schools and tribes. Shelters were opened within hours of the flooding. The organization provided cots, blankets, food and a safe place for families directly with the Nooksack Indian Tribe to use one of its facilities as shelter locations, while maintaining communication with tribal partners through the county’s Emergency Operations Center to help ensure equal access to assistance.
In addition to sheltering, Marozwa said the organization also conducts damage assessments to determine what support households need, from temporary housing to financial aid, ensuring that recovery efforts reach all impacted residents regardless of status.
“The main idea is to help people recover and move on from the disaster. The only way to do that is to give them a chance to go back home and start working on their recovery process,” said Marozwa.
While local organizations emphasized inclusivity, many residents remained cautious about seeking aid due to fears of federal immigration enforcement.
In recent months, U.S. Customs and Border Protection set up additional checkpoints along the U.S.-Canada border in Whatcom County and increased inspections, including near Peace Arch and Pacific Highway, prompting longer wait times and concern among travelers.
As deportation proceedings continue, officials described these measures as routine enforcement. Butenschoen added that some residents may be hesitant about seeking assistance due to their immigration status, but her organization is welcoming them and assures aid and confidentiality.
An anonymous statement shared by the Whatcom Community Foundation said that families often opted to sleep in cars or overcrowded spaces rather than risk going to official shelters. This hesitation reflects broader emotional and practical toll on residents, particularly those from vulnerable communities.
“Many immigrant families lose their homes, their income, and their stability without appearing in official counts… Their resilience, their poorly paid work, the exploitation they face, and their sacrifices go unnoticed by many,” the statement read.
Language barriers further complicated access to assistance for residents during the flooding. A Hispanic Sumas resident, interviewed through a translator, shared that her family was able to find temporary housing and was safe. However, she declined to speak on the record.
While official recovery efforts continue, Butenschoen said rebuilding will take months, if not years, particularly for residents in the Nooksack River basin who were displaced multiple times by recent floods.
“They just recovered or were just about recovered from the last flood, and almost everyone who was hit before was hit this time plus more,” Butenschoen said. “People are angry, they don’t want to do it again. They are tired.”
— By Mabaindu Mbawa
Also read in Salish Current:
• “December floods test salmon habitats, restoration efforts,” Feb. 4, 2026
• “‘Two-headed hydra’ worsens regional flooding ,” Dec. 19, 2025
• “Flooding on the border: Three years and waiting,” Oct. 15, 2024
• “Water worries on the rise: Nooksack addresses increased flooding,” Feb. 16, 2024