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Please call or email a case manager with the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing if you need this information in ASL.
Phone numbers: VP: 360-200-0457, Voice/TTY: 800-422-7930, Voice: 360-725-3450
Email: [email protected] Web: Case Management Services
The Department of Social and Health Services’ Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is providing information about the ongoing winter weather and flooding, what you can do to stay safe, and what you can do if you experience damage.
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. Call the Community Services Division at 877-501-2233 or visit your local Community Services Office to request a replacement. You must request replacement food benefits within 10 days of the loss.
Winter Storm and Floods
A strong atmospheric river is bringing heavy rains, floods and storms to Washington state. On Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, Gov. Ferguson announced an emergency declaration in partnership with the federal government to work together to save lives and protect property and public health and safety.
This authorization was amended Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, to activate state assistance programs to more quickly provide help to 14 counties experiencing historic flooding across Washington.
GET READY
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).
- Plan for your family and pets and ensure important documents are available.
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Sign up for local text alerts for emergency instructions and information.
- Download emergency preparedness apps:
- Information for people with disabilities
STAY INFORMED
If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your health care provider. Wait for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
Scams can increase during disasters. Be cautious and only work with legitimate representatives of an agency or organization. Do not give out your personal information unless you have checked and are confident of the agency or organization you are working with.
Check these resources frequently as information often changes rapidly.
- Local news: Follow your local news on TV news, newspapers, or on YouTube.
- Local support: Find your city and county websites and check often.
- Social media: Follow your local official government pages on social media.
FLOODS:
Disaster Preparedness in ASL: Floods (Red Cross)
Staying safe during floods:
- If you are told to evacuate, go immediately.
- Never drive around barricades. These are used to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.
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Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters.
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
Immediate safety and shelter: For shelter information, road closures and sandbags:
Power outage information and tips from Ready.gov:
Have questions about your rights during an emergency? Contact the Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning.
Accessibility: We are dedicated to ensuring equitable and inclusive access. Our meetings and events are available in ASL, spoken English, and with captioning. Additionally, other signed and spoken languages are offered. For more information or specific requests, please contact us at [email protected].
Contact Us!
800-422-7930 Voice
425-461-4603 Videophone
[email protected]
Visit Website!
dshs.wa.gov/altsa/odhh
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