Whatcom County Government

10/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last night’s Flood Preparedness Open House!

Couldn't make it? Check out the links below for more information on how to prepare for Flooding!

10/15/2026

Western Washington University's Border Policy Research Institute and the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce have released an in-depth report on the impact of declining Canadian travelers on our local businesses.

“It is no secret that the actions at the federal level have very real impacts here in Whatcom. We must continue to invest in economic development that supports our local businesses and builds shared prosperity with our neighbors to the north,” said County Executive Satpal Sidhu.

You can learn more on cross-border trends by reading the report here: https://mabel.wwu.edu/do/5d7861a8-2b78-4094-b1f1-a48f86a9e51b /2/mode/2up

10/14/2026

Deputy Director Matt Klein from our Division of Emergency Management talks to KING 5 about what you can do to prepare for a flood and encourages folks to show up for our Flood Preparedness Open House this evening from 5PM-7PM at Nooksack Valley Middle School.

Whatcom County experts encourage residents to "prepare how they can," including testing evacuation routes, arranging an emergency kit and more.

10/14/2026

Check your mailbox – we mailed ballots today for the upcoming General Election!

See what measures and candidates are on the ballot here: http://www.whatcomcounty.us/1732/Current-Election.

Track your ballot status at www.VoteWA.gov.
If you do not receive your ballot by Tuesday, October 20, contact the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office at 360-778-5102 or [email protected]

10/13/2026

For Flood Preparedness Week, here are some more details on how Public Works and Emergency Management professionals prepare for flood season.

10/12/2026

With Flood Preparedness Week in full swing, the Public Works Podcast sat down with Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management's Matt Klein and Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa to talk about why personal preparedness matters during a community-wide emergency. Check it out here:
https://ow.ly/Rw3p50ZWTLB

For Flood Preparedness Week, we sat down with Whatcom County Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management Deputy Director Matt Klein for a special episode of the Public Works Podcast.

Hear why personal preparedness matters during a community-wide emergency, how to get your household 2 Weeks Ready, why you should never drive around a road-closed sign, and more.

The more people who are prepared before an emergency, the more first responders can focus their resources where they’re needed most.

Listen to the episode: https://ow.ly/Rw3p50ZWTLB

10/12/2026

It's Flood Preparedness Week and we are holding an open house this Wednesday, Oct. 14th at Nooksack Valley Middle School from 5-7PM. Learn about the work we are doing on current flood mitigation projects and get resources to prepare for flood season this year.

10/06/2026

With flood season approaching, Executive Satpal Sidhu officially proclaims Oct. 12th - Oct. 18th to be "Flood Preparedness Week".

This proclamation is part of a countywide effort brings together local government, emergency responders, and community partners to help residents prepare before flooding happens, while spotlighting flood mitigation projects underway and the County's work to build greater flood resilience.

You can learn more about these projects and how your household can prepare for flooding at our Flood Preparedness Open House - Weds. Oct. 14th from 5PM-7PM at Nooksack Valley Middle School. More details can be found here: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/m/newsflash/home/detail/5734

10/01/2026

Thank you to everyone who showed up for our County Government Open House last night - we appreciated the opportunity to answer your questions and share updates on the work we are doing in our community!

09/30/2026

BURN BAN TO BE LIFTED THURSDAY OCTOBER 1ST

Effective 8:00AM on Thursday October 1st, burn restrictions in Unincorporated Whatcom County will be lifted.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation during the burn ban period. With improved weather conditions and reduced fire risk, residents will soon be permitted to resume outdoor burning in accordance with local regulations.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬:
- Open burning (yard debris, brush piles, campfires, etc.) will be allowed.
- A burn permit is required for anything larger than a 4x4 pile. This can be found on our website: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/1477/Burn-Fire-Operation-Permit?bidId=
- Use caution and never leave fires unattended.
- Be mindful of wind conditions and have water/equipment nearby.
- Burning trash, construction debris, cardboard, etc. is still illegal!
For a full list of what is legal to burn visit https://www.whatcomcounty.us/690/Outdoor-Burning

𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭!
Even though the ban is lifted, responsible burning is still essential to help prevent wildfires.
Please share this information with your neighbors and community. Stay safe and thank you again for helping protect our county!