Red Cross Helping as Rivers Flood Washington State

Turn around, don’t drown! Stay off the roads.
If you must drive and you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and go another way.
 

The American Red Cross is responding to major river flooding across western Washington state caused by a prolonged atmospheric river event. People in some communities have been forced to leave their homes and thousands more face the threat of significant flooding as the record-setting rainfall continues over the next few days.

Many areas have already picked up anywhere from 5 to 10 inches of rain since Monday. Flood warnings have been issued as numerous rivers rise, leading to evacuations and water rescues across the region. Of particular concern is the Skagit River at Mount Vernon, now expected to crest about 15 feet over major flooding. This could impact as many as 70,000 people.

The American Red Cross is monitoring flooding activity and responding where needed to provide safe shelter to evacuees. Red Cross disaster volunteers have several emergency shelters open now and are working with state and local officials to identify more shelter sites should they be needed. Additional shelter teams and relief supplies are being deployed to the region to help, and a national leadership team is prepared to respond if necessary.

HOW YOU CAN HELP People need urgent assistance now. Help people affected by disasters like floods, storms and countless other crises with a Red Cross Disaster Relief donation by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small, whenever and wherever they occur across the country.

FIND A SHELTER We encourage anyone who needs aid to come to a shelter, you don’t have to stay overnight to get help.

Find shelter locations on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). You can also follow your local Red Cross or emergency officials on social media, sign up for free local government alerts or monitor local news.

Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability or citizenship status. All disaster assistance is free. We don’t require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and where they were living before the fires.

If possible, we encourage people who plan to stay in a shelter to bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents.

We do everything we can to accommodate service animals and pets comfortably in our shelters. Sometimes, pets may need to be housed in a different location with support from local partners.

GET READY NOW You may need to stay where you are or go somewhere else to stay safe.

• If you need to leave, think about where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay and what you’ll take with you. Don’t forget to include pets in your plans.
• Make a plan to reconnect with loved ones if you are separated or if the phone or internet is down. Write down important phone numbers on a contact card and carry it with you. Stay informed by monitoring local weather and news reports even if the power goes out. Have a backup battery or another way to charge your cell phone, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
• Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government, and make sure you know what different types of alerts mean. For example, a WATCH means be prepared, and a WARNING means take action.
• Gather critical supplies — like food, water and medicine — and organize them into a go-kit and a stay-at-home kit. Your go-kit should include three days of supplies that you can carry with you. Include backup batteries and chargers for your devices (cell phone, CPAP, wheelchair, etc.) Your stay-at-home kit should have two weeks of food and water, and a one-month supply of medications and medical supplies if possible.
• Customize your kit to meet your household’s needs. If you have pets, include leashes, carriers, food, bowls, litter, litterbox and photos of you with your pet in case you’re separated. If you have young children, include diapers, wipes and formula.
• Keep your personal, financial and medical records in a safe place that’s easy to access (hard copies or securely backed up). Consider keeping a list of your medications and dosages on a small card to carry with you.

FLOOD SAFETY Be prepared to evacuate immediately if local officials advise. Don’t return home until they say it is safe.

• Don’t walk, swim or drive through floodwaters. Turn around, don’t drown!
• Stay off the roads. If you must drive and you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and go another way.
• Follow evacuation routes and don’t try to take shortcuts because they may be blocked.
• If you’re caught on a flooded road and waters are rising around you, quickly get out of the car, move to higher ground and stay there.
• Check with loved ones and neighbors to see if they need help.