WHEREAS, Whatcom County and the greater community came together to save lives during the flood, rebuild lives in the aftermath, and are continuing a longer project to build a safer and more resilient Whatcom County; and

WHEREAS, Community members, local mayors, first responders, and farmers rescued flood victims from imminent harm by calling their neighbors and using all the available resources including personal vehicles and equipment; and

WHEREAS, Whatcom Strong, later becoming Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group, partnered with the Whatcom Community Foundation, Sustainable Connections, local faith groups including Sumas Advent Christian Church, Valley Church, Haven Church, Sumas Christian Reform Church, Sunlight Church, Guru Nanak Gursikh Gurdwara, Gurdwara Guru Nanak, North County Christ the King, Calvary Creekside, Habitat for Humanity, World Renew, Samaritans Purse, Team Rubicon, UMCOR, Everson Lions Club, Lynden Lions Club, Sumas American Legion Post 212, Everson Food Bank, and local businesses and restaurants and individuals, to remove debris, feed flood victims and work party volunteers, and provide clothing donations, diapers, household items, and other necessities for those who lost their homes; and

WHEREAS, The Whatcom County River and Flood Division has repaired flood infrastructure and developed an acquisition and elevation program to help get vulnerable structures out of harm's way, and acquired properties needed for future flood risk, obtaining $34.4 million in federal funding and is currently pursuing an additional $50.8 million in federal funding; and

WHEREAS, The Floodplain Integrated Planning Flow Split Reach Team is continuing and accelerating their collaborative work to identify integrated options for addressing the flow split in Everson by bringing together Whatcom County, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, the Lummi Nation, the City of Everson, the City of Ferndale, the City of Lynden, the City of Sumas, the Nooksack River farm community, diking districts, subzones, Watershed Improvement Districts, the Washington state Department of Ecology, the Washington state Department of Natural Resources, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Trans Mountain Pipeline, the University of Washington Climate Impacts Groups, and private consultants; and

WHEREAS, The Whatcom County River and Flood Division executed The Nooksack River Flood Disaster Mitigation Plan Agreement, signed by the Whatcom County Executive and the Mayors of Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, and Sumas; and

WHEREAS, The ongoing flood recovery and mitigation work in Whatcom County would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration of local elected officials, public servants, and community members who devote their time, talents, and love to Whatcom County;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate express its gratitude to the Whatcom County River and Flood Division, the Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group, and the greater community for their tireless recovery and mitigation work on behalf of the people of Whatcom County.