Flood cleanup in Whatcom County

Two floods, the same towns

In November 2021 an atmospheric river put 5.57 inches of rain on Bellingham International Airport in three days, the wettest three-day stretch in its record. The Nooksack at Ferndale peaked at 56,300 cubic feet per second on November 16, a stage of 23.89 feet against a major flood stage of 23 (USGS, NWS). Federal flood insurance took 326 claims from Whatcom County that month and paid $22.5 million.

In December 2025 it happened again. The river's daily mean flow at Ferndale hit 34,200 cubic feet per second on December 11, 2025 (USGS provisional data; the peak flow for the event is not published yet). By December 18, about 780 Whatcom households had asked the Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group for help, 412 of them in Sumas and just under 230 in Everson (Cascadia Daily News). The NFIP has 297 claims from that month so far, with $21.6 million paid. Where the Nooksack floods, and why.

Federal flood insurance claims per year, Whatcom County

What has to come out

Floodwater counts as contaminated, so the rules are stricter than for a clean pipe leak. Porous materials that river water soaked usually can't be saved, and the EPA notes that porous materials such as carpet may have to be thrown away once they grow mold.

• Carpet and pad, upholstered furniture, mattresses: usually out.
• Drywall and insulation: cut out above the water line, often a foot or more above it, so the wall cavity can be cleaned and dried.
• Framing and concrete: cleaned and disinfected, dried, then checked with a moisture meter.
• Furnaces and water heaters that sat in water: inspected before use, often replaced.

Flood insurance is its own policy

The Washington Insurance Commissioner says a typical home insurance policy does not cover flood damage. A National Flood Insurance Program policy covers up to $250,000 on the house and $100,000 on contents, and it starts 30 days after it is written, so buying one when the river is rising doesn't help that flood. Basements and crawl spaces have limited NFIP coverage; FloodSmart lists what is and isn't covered below the lowest elevated floor.

About 16% of paid flood claims in Whatcom County were on properties rated outside the high-risk A and V zones. The flood map is a guide, not a promise. Insurance claims in Washington.

What flood cleanup costs

Fixr prices black water, which includes floodwater, at $7 to $7.50 per square foot, about double clean water. A flooded first floor of an average house runs well past the $3,000 national average for a water job. Fixr's top category of water damage, with standing water through the structure, runs $20,000 to $100,000.

After a flood, watch for

• Contractors going door to door with a contract ready. The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule gives you three days to cancel most door-to-door sales of $25 or more made at your home.
• Requests for large cash deposits before work starts.
• Anyone who isn't registered with Washington L&I. Check at the Verify a Contractor page.