Flood emergency in Washington State
In early December 2025, an “atmospheric river” brought days of heavy rain to Washington State. Rivers in Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Whatcom counties rose to record levels, forcing over a thousand residents to evacuate. Around 400 people from 300 families were moved into temporary shelters, and the state declared an emergency.
A fire official later recalled, “The water level reached 38 feet, above the previous record of 34 feet.” The Tzu Chi USA Seattle Service Center joined Washington VOAD, the American Red Cross, UMCOR and The Salvation Army to assess damage, support shelters, distribute supplies and cash cards, and help families begin recovering.
Rapid response and first needs
After an emergency meeting on December 11, Seattle volunteers moved quickly. Within days, they used social media and QR‑code flyers to reach survivors, gather information, and recruit new volunteers.
Teams visited three shelters and a fire station in Snohomish and King counties to assess needs. At the Red Cross shelter at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, they found several families with children on the autism spectrum or with ADHD who were struggling in the noisy, unfamiliar environment. A Red Cross worker said caring for them was especially challenging and welcomed more help.
Another team went to two community centers in King County and purchased basic clothing and toiletries for families who had left home with almost nothing.
Food, comfort, and emotional support
On December 18, Salvation Army mobile kitchens were cleared to enter flood‑hit areas in Skagit and Whatcom counties. Seattle volunteers joined a food truck to bring hot meals and snacks to churches, community centers, and shelters in Concrete, Sumas, Marblemount, Sedro‑Woolley, and Marysville, and distributed more than 40 care packages.
They realized that beyond food, survivors urgently needed a way to restart their lives and a clear channel for asking for help. Volunteers shared a QR code for Tzu Chi’s relief application and helped people register on the spot. “The fact that someone is willing to come up here and see us is already a big comfort,” one mountain resident said.
At the same time, the Caring for Kids Great Love Team, led by teachers experienced in special‑needs care, entered shelters to play games and do art activities with children, easing their anxiety and giving parents a brief rest.
LEFT: After hearing the story of Tzu Chi’s bamboo bank, a survivor immediately donated into the bamboo coin bank. | Photo: Ruby Wang (彭淑珠) RIGHT: Volunteers conducted on-site disaster assessment in the flood-affected area. | Photo: Bob Chen (陳俊欽)
Cross-county outreach and shelter care
On December 19, volunteers again partnered with a Salvation Army mobile kitchen in Sumas, Everson, and Mount Vernon, combining hot meals with information on how to apply for further aid. The children’s team and 19 volunteers then returned to the Monroe shelter the next day to lead games and activities while helping families complete relief forms; 15 applications were submitted that day.
LEFT: A warm embrace from a survivor who thanks volunteers for coming to offer care and relief. | Photo: Fandy Tsai (蔡佩芬) RIGHT: Seattle volunteers and The Salvation Army bring sandwiches and snacks to flood-affected Sumas, hoping survivors can feel warmth and support in the winter. | Photo: Tsung-Chi Tsai (蔡宗琪)
No one left alone on Christmas Eve
From December 21 to 24, including Christmas Eve, volunteers stayed at front-line sites, helping about 30 people choose what they needed in a respectful setting.
One survivor, a veteran who had previously experienced homelessness, received a warm jacket after describing how he had spent two days standing on a bus stop bench during the flood, his clothes soaked and muddy.
In Concrete, volunteers met Amy, whose 90‑year‑old wooden house is now threatened after the flood altered a nearby creek, and her friend Cheryl, who lost large appliances and precious keepsakes but was grateful she had saved her beloved donkey.
By Christmas Eve, the first wave of cash cards had reached 20 families—63 people—across four locations, including hotels used as Red Cross shelters. They also received blankets, scarves, and bamboo coin banks.
LEFT: On December 20, volunteers return a second time to the Red Cross shelter in Monroe to continue caring for residents. | Photo: Ruby Wang RIGHT: On December 21, Seattle volunteers conduct emergency flood relief at Inspire Church in Marblemount. | Photo: Lu-Chih Liao
Reaching the least visible
On December 27 and 28, just before the New Year, volunteers continued visiting hard‑hit communities, finding broken roads and bridges and homes where nearly all belongings were destroyed. With another cold spell coming, they immediately distributed scarves and blankets. Many said they were deeply moved that volunteers had come in person.
One resident with limited means had bought sandbags to help his neighbors protect their homes; volunteers offered him financial support so he could focus on his own urgent needs.
Through phone calls, they reached people outside shelters. Carla, who lives in a mobile home, said her lot was buried in mud and debris and that she had no one who could help her clear it—her greatest need was manpower and equipment, not just money.
Another survivor, Brahm, an interpreter for hospitals and courts, escaped with only a backpack as waters rose. When he returned, his supplies had been stolen, and he now alternates between sleeping in a church and a rented car. He worried about his car being stripped, but still expressed gratitude for the supplies and cash card he received.
Volunteers also learned that small church‑run shelters, which provide 24‑hour heat, meals and showers, faced sharply higher utility bills while receiving far less outside attention—another gap they hope the community can help address.
LEFT: Volunteers visited multiple flooded communities and immediately provided scarves and blankets. RIGHT: At the distribution site in Hamilton Church, volunteers met Carla—first contacted by phone for a needs assessment—and provided her with emergency assistance. | Photos: Bob Chen
Support beyond the emergency phase
To help residents access medium‑term aid, King County organized assistance events in early January where eligible survivors could apply for financial support and other recovery resources.
The Tzu Chi USA Seattle Service Center will continue assessing needs and supporting recovery so more families can regain basic stability and rebuild their homes. Volunteers also invite local residents to join in—through service, donations of supplies, or contributions to relief funds—so that as the floodwaters recede, care and hope keep reaching those who need them most.
Written by Lu-Chih Liao (廖慮直), Fandy Tsai (蔡佩芬), Tsai-En Cheng (鄭采恩), Mei-Chen Chien (錢美臻), Tsung-Chi Tsai (蔡宗琪)
