Update: Gov. Bob Ferguson offered the following statement on Washington's request for federal emergency assistance on Friday morning after the publication of this article: "I just received a phone call from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Secretary Noem informed me that the president signed our request for an emergency declaration. We have also received written confirmation of that emergency declaration. I expressed my thanks to Secretary Noem on behalf of the people of the State of Washington during this extremely challenging time. More details at our 2 p.m. media availability."
U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, along with the rest of Washington’s entire congressional delegation, urged President Trump to approve Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson’s request last night for an expedited emergency declaration for the devastating storms and severe flooding hitting Washington state this week.
There has been widespread flooding across Southwest Washington, and residents in parts of Cowlitz, Lewis and Pacific Counties have had to evacuate, in addition to residents in the northern part of Western Washington. On Wednesday, Ferguson said an estimated 100,000 Washingtonians could face evacuation orders. He declared a statewide emergency alongside his request for a federal emergency declaration. An emergency declaration would supplement state, local and tribal responders and allow the federal government to assist with debris removal and emergency protective measures, according to a news release from Gluesenkamp Perez.
“We write in support of Washington state’s December 10, 2025, request for an expedited Emergency Declaration due to the devastating extreme rainfall, high winds, heavy snowfall, ice accumulation and major coastal, river and localized flooding caused by an extreme atmospheric river and winter weather event that struck the state beginning on December 2, 2025. We urge you to approve this request for assistance as quickly as possible,” Gluesenkamp Perez and the other members of the delegation wrote. “This storm is threatening lives, property and livestock in every corner of Washington. The storm has had severe and widespread impacts on our transportation system, with major highways closed due to mudslides and communities cut off by rising water. The National Weather Service forecasts that more than a dozen Washington rivers will see major flooding in the coming days, leading to further and worsening impacts.”
The full letter is available at https://tinyurl.com/47h5hryy.
