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December 22, 2025

Information for clients

The following information covers immediate assistance resources as well as other information to assist in providing information to people requesting support, including clients who are not receiving a paid service from Developmental Disabilities Community Services.

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. 

Important: Emergency Housing Support for Clients Impacted by Floods 🏠

If you or a family member are an eligible client of Developmental Disabilities Community Services and have been displaced from your home due to recent flooding, you may be eligible for emergency lodging through the Motel Interim Stays for Transition program.   

This program is funded through Health-Related Social Needs resources, and provides short-term motel stays for people who have no safe place to stay because of an emergency (like a flood or power outage). 

Who is Eligible? 

You may qualify for this emergency stay if:

• you are enrolled in Developmental Disabilities Community Services (If you do not know who your case resource manager is, please contact us), or
• you are eligible for Apple Health, or
• you are displaced, or
• your home is unsafe to live in due to flood damage. 

How to Get a Safe Place to Stay

 Developmental Disabilities Community Services case resource managers must request the service for you. The emergency stay program is not a direct-application service for the public. 

If you need a safe place to stay, please ask your case resource manager to request a "MIST Referral." 

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. 

Anyone with a disaster-related need can access these and other services that may be available. 

• WA 211.
• Family and Adult Coordinated Entry Access Points for People Experiencing Homelessness.
• Find open Red Cross shelters and disaster relief services.

During a disaster or emergency, you can rely on Red Cross Service Sites for:

• Meals, snacks and water.
• Health services (for disaster-related conditions), such as: 
  • First aid.
  • Refilling lost prescriptions.
  • Replacing lost eyeglasses.
  • Emotional support and mental health services.
• Charging stations for cell phones and medical devices.
• Emergency supplies to help clean up after a disaster.
• Access to multi-agency disaster-related resources in the community.
• Access to caseworkers who can help you with disaster recovery planning and financial assistance (for those who qualify).

Review information for people with disabilities 

• People with Disabilities (ready.gov). 
• 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.   

1. Learn how to save your family treasures, plan for your family and pets, and ensure important documents are available.  
2. 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.  

1. 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. 
2. Websites: How to Start a Flood Insurance Claim, How to Document Damage. 
3. Power outage information and tips from Ready.gov:  
   • Power outages.
   • List of public utilities in Washington.

For additional information and support

• Contact your local office, or 
• Your assigned case resource manager.