By Ted Buehner, Northwest Region

“Our area was ground zero.”

When Alex Newman, Executive Director of Northwest Washington Chapter of the American Red Cross, looked at the maps last December, he saw a holiday season transformed by an unprecedented weather event. From December 8 through 18, 2025, a series of warm “atmospheric rivers” saturated Washington state, bringing nearly 25 inches of rain to parts of the Cascade Range in just 10 days.

With little snowpack to absorb the moisture, the runoff surged into rivers and streams. Over 20 rivers across the state soared past flood stages (some shattering all-time records) displacing families from dozens of communities just as the holidays approached.

In the face of widespread displacement, the American Red Cross moved quickly to provide shelter, warm meals, and support. This response was a massive coordination of effort: relief workers from across the country joined forces with local teams. Notably, nearly half of the responders were volunteers from right here in Washington, helping their own neighbors through the crisis.

While the impact was felt on both sides of the Cascades, the North Puget Sound area, stretching from Whatcom County to Snohomish County, bore the brunt of the damage.

The Response by the Numbers

To meet the immediate need, the Red Cross and its partners—including schools, businesses, and places of worship—opened 31 emergency shelters. These sites were established within hours and remained open well after the waters receded to ensure no family was left without a safe place to go.

• 3,000+ Overnight Stays: Providing safety, warmth, and a sense of certainty for residents and their pets.
• 30,000 Meals and Snacks: Distributed to families.
• 9,000+ Clean-up Kits: Giving residents the essential supplies needed to begin the difficult process of cleaning out their homes.
• 1,750 Households Supported: Assistance provided across the nearly dozen counties declared disaster areas by the state.

Disaster recovery doesn't end when the rain stops. While most residents have begun to transition home, the work continues in the hardest-hit areas. The final emergency shelter in Packwood remains open to support the community along the upper Cowlitz River.

This mobilization is a testament to what a national disaster operation with local impact looks like. From elected officials to community organizations, this response relied on strong local ties to provide stability and dignity to thousands of Washingtonians in their moment of greatest need.