WASHINGTON, D.C.—Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared a public health emergency for Washington state on Christmas Eve, aiming to ease health care access amid devastating storms, high winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides that have battered the region.
The move follows President Donald J Trump’s approval of an emergency declaration earlier this month, which unlocked federal aid for response efforts in the state. It provides greater flexibility for Medicare and Medicaid providers to meet urgent needs, retroactive to December 9, 2025.
Kennedy’s action, authorized under the Public Health Service Act and Social Security Act, comes as communities grapple with the aftermath of back-to-back atmospheric rivers that dumped heavy rain and caused widespread destruction. HHS stands prepared to bolster state and local responses, said John Knox, the department’s principal deputy assistant secretary for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.
“With today’s declaration and waiver, HHS is helping ensure that residents in the storm’s path have continuous access to the care they need during and after this storm,” Knox said. “ASPR’s highly trained personnel are prepared to support state and local actions to save lives and protect the delivery of health care services.”
Trump’s emergency declaration, approved December 12, made federal assistance available to supplement Washington’s efforts in dealing with the impacts to the back-to-back atmospheric rivers. It covers counties including Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pierce and Skagit, where damage has been extensive. Federal teams have deployed to support recovery, focusing on historic flooding that has displaced residents and disrupted infrastructure.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson had already declared a statewide emergency on December 10, citing major flooding across the state from the atmospheric river and winter weather event. He amended the proclamation days later, directing $3.5 million in state aid to support impacted residents in 14 counties and activating assistance programs for quicker emergency relief.
To aid those affected, HHS has activated its emPOWER program, which tracks Medicare beneficiaries reliant on electricity-dependent equipment like dialysis machines or oxygen tanks. This data helps officials prioritize at-risk individuals during outages and disruptions.
Emotional support is also available through the Disaster Distress Helpline, operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Residents can call or text 1-800-985-5990 for 24/7 crisis counseling in multiple languages, including Spanish and over 100 others via interpreters.
Additionally, HHS has waived certain HIPAA Privacy Rule penalties for hospitals in the emergency zones, allowing more flexible information sharing during the crisis. The Office for Civil Rights issued guidance on the limited waiver’s scope and duration.
As recovery ramps up, various resources are available for flood victims: https://wa.gov/how-to-guides/historic-flood-emergency-financial-resources-and-recovery-washingtonians
Author: Mario Lotmore
