How to Help Our Fellow Washingtonians

More than 70,000 (possibly as many as 100,000) people have been given evacuation orders during the current flooding of rivers in western Washington. All 10,000 residents of Burlington were asked to evacuate Friday (Dec. 12) morning. Dozens of people and even more animals have been rescued from the water. Mudslides have blocked parts of I-90.

The affected rivers—including the Skagit, Snohomish, Nooksack, Cedar, Snoqualmie, Skykomish, and Stillaguamish—have reached record or near-record levels because of a series of atmospheric rivers passing through the region. The number of flooded acres of farmland has yet to be determined, but the costs to businesses, farms, and residents will likely reach the hundreds of milions of dollars. Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a state of emergency.

Meanwhile, because of the flooding, more than 100 scheduled blood donors have been unable to make their appointments, and numerous blood drives have been canceled. Bloodworks Northwest is close to declaring a blood shortage Code Red.

Our neighbors across the state need our help. The following vetted organizations are looking for donations and volunteers to help those affected by the floods:

• Salvation Army Northwest Division: To donate online, click here.

• Bloodworks Northwest: To make an appointment to donate blood, click here.

• American Red Cross: To make a donation, click here.

• United Way of Skagit County: To make a donation, click here.

• Washington State Combined Fund Drive: To make a donation directly to the 2025 WA State Floods fund, click here.

• Skagit County Emergency Management: To help fill sandbags, go to one of the following locations:

  • Dike District 12, 1317 Anacortes St., Burlington

  • Dike District 3, 20890 Dike Rd., Mount Vernon

  • Dike District 17, 121 Stewart St. Mount Vernon

If you have been affected personally, visit the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions page called Washington Flood Emergency: Financial Resources and Recovery.