Urgent Assistance and Long-Term Recovery Information
Please contact the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing if you need this information in ASL.
Disaster Cash Assistance is available Dec. 17, 2025, to Jan. 15, 2026, for eligible households affected by flooding in specific counties. Those counties include Benton, Chelan, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Yakima and Whatcom.
If you lose food bought with food benefits because of recent flooding or a power outage, you can file a claim to replace those food benefits. To receive this help, you must file a claim within 10 days of the flooding or outage.
To apply for Disaster Cash Assistance or to file a claim to replace food bought with food benefits, call the Customer Service Contact Center at 877-501-2233 or visit your local Community Services Office between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
DSHS has an external webpage, including an FAQ, that we will continue to update through this weather emergency.
Prepare
Follow the news. Check these resources frequently as information often changes rapidly.
Local news: Follow your local news on TV news, newspapers, or on YouTube.
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer issues emergency order to provide relief to consumers impacted by recent flooding (Dec. 15, 2025)
-
WA floods: Tips to keep you safe when you return to clean your property (Dec. 12, 2025)
Local support: Find your city and county websites and check often.
Social media: Follow your local official government pages on social media.
Stay Informed
When emergencies strike, public safety officials use many systems to alert you. These are the types of alerts you can get (download the guide here).
Sign up for local text alerts for emergency instructions and information, and download emergency preparedness apps:
- Red Cross (iOS, Android)
- FEMA (iOS, Android)
Find where to go for immediate safety and shelter.
- WA 211
- Find open shelters and disaster relief services.
Review information for people with disabilities.
- Inclusive Preparedness Resources
-
ASL Disaster Resource Hub: Disaster Preparedness in ASL: Floods (Red Cross)
Get Ready
The National Flood Insurance Program and floodsmart.gov provide in-depth resources for you to help prepare for and recover from flooding.
Learn how to save your family treasures, plan for your family and pets, and ensure important documents are available.
Videos: How to Secure Documents in Preparation for a Flood, and How to Document Damage
Recovery
Review state flood emergency financial and recovery resources for homeowners and renters. You can get guidance for financial information and insurance and learn how to avoid scams.
Documents How to Start a Flood Insurance Claim, Identifying Your Advocates After a Flood, Starting Your Recovery: FEMA's Flood Insurance Claims Process, Recovering Financially After a Flood
Websites: How to Start a Flood Insurance Claim, How to Document Damage
Power outage information and tips from Ready.gov:
- Power outages
- List of public utilities in Washington
|
