Washington State Flood Relief: How to Help Families
Recent flooding across Washington State has forced families from their homes, damaged schools and disrupted access to clean water, food and essential services. Save the Children, with longstanding programs across Washington, is responding now to support children affected by this extreme weather emergency.
Your donation today can help protect children and support families impacted by this disaster, as well as disasters across the United States.
Are the Washington State floods affecting children and families?
Yes. Historic river flooding across western Washington has forced widespread evacuations, school closures and dangerous travel conditions. Many families have been stranded or displaced, leaving children without safe shelter, daily routines, or access to essential supplies.
Children are especially vulnerable during disasters, and the first hours and days of evacuation are often the most critical.
How is Save the Children responding to the Washington State floods?
Save the Children is on the ground right now in Washington State.
As the leading child-focused emergency responder in the U.S., and with longstanding programs across the state, our teams are working with local partners to support children and families affected by this historic flooding.
We are preparing to provide emergency cash assistance, hygiene supplies, diapers, wipes, and other essentials to families who have lost everything.
Why is Save the Children able to respond so quickly in Washington State?
Our long-standing presence across Washington and deep relationships with schools, child care providers and community partners enable us to act quickly and effectively. Because we’ve been working in Washington for many years, our teams can mobilize rapidly when emergencies strike and deliver support where children need it most.
What do children need most after a flood?
Children need safe shelter, clean water, hygiene supplies and emotional support. Flooding disrupts routines, separates children from familiar environments, and exposes them to unsafe water and living conditions. Essentials like diapers, wipes, clean clothing, and child-focused relief items are often urgently needed in the first days after evacuation.
How can I help families affected by the Washington floods?
You can help by donating to Save the Children’s U.S. Children’s Emergency Fund. Your support helps provide emergency cash assistance, hygiene supplies, and other critical resources for families recovering from the floods across Washington and throughout the U.S.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes. Donations to Save the Children are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. After donating, you will receive a receipt for your records.
10 Flood Safety Tips to Keep Children Safe
Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in the U.S. While the effects of floods can be devastating, these flood safety tips can help keep children safe.
What to do before a flood:
- Talk about floods. Spend time with your family discussing why floods occur and how to stay safe during a flood. Explain that flooding is a natural event and not anyone’s fault. Use simple words that young children can understand.
- Consider flood insurance. Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage.
- Stay informed. Use a NOAA Weather Radio or listen to a local station on a battery-powered device, radio or TV. Listen for what to do in a flood warning or watch. Evacuate if told to do so or if you feel unsafe.
What to do during a flood:
- Follow guidance of local authorities. Elected officials and first responders are most informed about affected areas and most knowledgeable which flooded areas to avoid.
- Move to higher ground. During a flood you should move to higher ground and avoid standing, flowing, or rising water.
- Keep children away from dirty water. Keep children and pets away from hazardous sites and floodwater as it’s likely to be dirty, carry bacteria, and vulnerable to electric shock.
- Keep children clean. Wash children's hands frequently (always before meals) and ensure they bathe after being exposed to flood waters or flood-damaged areas.
What to do after a flood:
- Ensure utilities are restored. Before children return to flood-affected areas, ensure utilities such as electricity and plumbing are restored. Living and learning spaces (e.g., homes, schools, child care facilities) should be free from physical and environmental hazards.
- Limit children’s participation in recovery. Children and teens should not be involved in clean-up efforts – they should return after the area is cleaned up. Before children return, these areas should be cleaned and disinfected, along with all toys, clothing, etc.
- Clean or discard contaminated toys. Do not allow children to play with toys that have been contaminated by flood water and have not been disinfected. Materials that cannot be readily disinfected, such as stuffed animals or pillows, should be discarded.
Our History of Flood Relief Response
With your help, Save the Children is working in the U.S. and around the world to help children and their communities adapt to the impacts of extreme weather, including floods.
2022 Eastern Kentucky Floods
In July 2022, historic flooding in eastern Kentucky left a wake of destruction in its path.
Save the Children worked with school and community partners across six of the region’s hardest-hit counties to help schools and child care centers recover, and get children and families the essentials they need now and long-term, including social and emotional support to cope with stress and loss following the tragic flooding.
Quick Ways to Help During the Washington State Floods
- Donate to the U.S. Children’s Emergency Fund to support families in WA.
- Share safety tips to help protect children during and after flooding.
- Stay informed via official local emergency guidance.