{"id":2519817,"date":"2025-12-10T18:58:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T23:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-ferguson-requests-disaster-declaration-from-fema-for-floods\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T19:01:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T00:01:30","slug":"gov-ferguson-requests-disaster-declaration-from-fema-for-floods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-ferguson-requests-disaster-declaration-from-fema-for-floods\/","title":{"rendered":"Gov. Ferguson requests disaster declaration from FEMA for floods"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgov-ferguson-requests-disaster-declaration-from-fema-for-floods%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2519817&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has requested a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-emergency-declared-in-texas-amidst-severe-winter-weather\/\" title=\"Federal Emergency Declared In Texas Amidst Severe Winter Weather\">disaster declaration<\/a> from FEMA due to severe flooding in Western Washington following several days of near-record rainfall. Emergency operations are active, and numerous communities are evacuating residents as floodwaters from rivers such as the Carbon, Puyallup, Snoqualmie, and skagit rise to dangerous levels. The Washington National Guard is mobilizing hundreds of members to aid affected areas. Officials warn that tens of thousands may need evacuation,particularly in Mount Vernon,Arlington,Orting,and Carnation. Flood control improvements have helped mitigate some impacts, but record-breaking water levels have prompted urgent evacuation orders and the opening of emergency shelters to assist displaced residents. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely,urging residents in flood-prone zones to prepare for potential evacuation.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Gov. Ferguson requests disaster declaration from FEMA for devastating floods<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2441063\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> Gov. Bob Ferguson, on Wednesday, held a press briefing to announce he has requested a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/natural-disasters\/\">disaster<\/a> declaration from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fema\/\">Federal Emergency Management Agency<\/a> to address widespread flooding across Western Washington after several days of near-record rainfall.<\/p>\n<p>Even as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/andrew-cuomo-wants-to-reopen-indoor-dining-for-valentines-day-the-new-york-times-isnt-having-it\/\" title=\"Andrew Cuomo Wants To Reopen Indoor Dining For Valentine\u2019s Day. The New York Times Isn\u2019t Having It.\">governor spoke<\/a>, several flood-prone communities were in the midst of evacuating residents and issuing emergency alerts to prepare for departure.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/3912416\/utah-spencer-cox-budget-homeless-shelter\/\">Utah governor asks for $45 million in budget proposal to run planned homeless shelter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/3909673\/trump-administration-ruling-nyc-congestion-pricing\/\">Trump administration urges ruling on NYC congestion pricing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/3907761\/gavin-newsom-blames-trump-delay-rebuilding-homes-broken-promise-la-fires\/\">Newsom blames Trump for delay to rebuilding homes because president promised to &lsquo;help&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;We need the federal government to grant that request. This is critical,&rdquo; Ferguson said from Camp Murray, where the state&rsquo;s Emergency Operations Center has been activated 24\/7.&nbsp; &ldquo;If you receive an evacuation order, please, please follow that order.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, the&nbsp;current adjutant general for the Washington National Guard, told reporters 100 National Guard members have been activated to assist flooded communities today, and by Thursday, 300 will be activated.<\/p>\n<p>Robert Ezelle, director of the Washington Military Department&rsquo;s Emergency Management Division, said that tens of thousands of people may need to be evacuated in the Mount Vernon and Arlington areas.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We see that the 1990 record is probably going to be exceeded by about four feet upriver,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;So what that means is the county is preparing to evacuate 75,000 people who are living in low-lying areas. &ldquo;Go-now orders could be coming as soon as this evening.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Emergency evacuations were underway on Wednesday in Orting, as floodwaters from the&nbsp;Carbon River and the Puyallup River are spilling into neighborhoods and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >making roads impassable due<\/a> to heavy rains continuing.<\/p>\n<p>Central Pierce Fire and Rescue posted that river levels within Orting are extremely high, and officials are also concerned about levees upstream on the Puyallup River.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Center Square reached out to Orting Mayor Josh Penner, who said the city&rsquo;s two police officers went door to door to make sure people were heeding the evacuation order, although no one was forced to leave their home.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This matches our highest river level that we&rsquo;ve ever had, the highest record level,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The difference between then, when we had water flowing down the streets in our city, and now is we&rsquo;ve done substantial improvement on our flood control structures in and around the city in the last 15 years. So it likely would have been extreme flooding in the city, but that&rsquo;s been mitigated.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Central Pierce Fire and Rescue issued go-now orders for the areas of Williams Boulevard Northwest, Mellinger Avenue Northwest, and Stone Street Northwest.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;An evacuation center is opening up at the Multi-Purpose Center (Library) in downtown Orting, if you need a place to stay warm, dry, and fed,&rdquo; according to the orders posted.<\/p>\n<p>Penner said through a coordinated emergency response, they were able to issue targeted alerts to the homes where flooding was expected to be the worst, rather than issue flood alerts to the entire community.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So we&rsquo;re able to sort of stop the stampede if you want to put it that way,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, in Carnation, the Snoqualmie River is headed toward the &ldquo;major flooding&rdquo; stage.<\/p>\n<p>City Manager Rhonda Ender said that with Carnation being at the confluence of the Snoqualmie River and Tolt River, they are used to flooding.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is higher than we&rsquo;ve seen in the last couple years for sure. We are expecting the Tolt to go from moderate to major tonight and the Snoqualmie to transition from moderate to major tomorrow, and we&rsquo;re expecting additional rainfall as well,&rdquo; she noted.<\/p>\n<p>Ender said the city of Carnation itself is not underwater, but the surrounding areas and farmland are inundated.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So, we become isolated out here and a bit of an island because it&rsquo;s difficult to get in and out because of all the surrounding flooding,&rdquo; she explained.<\/p>\n<p>AccuWeather posted dramatic drone footage on X of the flooded Snoqualmie River Valley.<\/p>\n<p>Record flooding is expected near Mount Vernon from the Skagit River. According to the Northwest River Forecast Council, flood stage from the Skagit at Mount Vernon is 23.5 cubic feet per second, with the river expected to reach a record 41.54 cubic feet per second.<\/p>\n<p>Skagit County issued a Facebook&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SkagitCountyWA\">alert<\/a>&nbsp;early Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3421371\/fema-future-abolition-overhaul-cabinet\/\"><strong>FEMA&rsquo;S FORK IN THE ROAD: ABOLITION OR SEAT AT THE CABINET<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Washington Weather Chasers also posted&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WaWxChasers\">images<\/a>&nbsp;of a washed-out section of State Route 906 at Snoqualmie Pass, where the pavement buckled.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;ANYONE LIVING WITHIN THE 100-YEAR FLOOD PLAIN IS AT A LEVEL 2: GET READY EVACUATION PREP. This means you are prepared for an evacuation order within the next 24 hours. If you are in or near the 100-year flood plain, make sure you have your Go! Kit ready and in your vehicle,&rdquo; the post stated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gov. Ferguson seeks FEMA disaster aid for severe Western WA floods<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2519818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25264136291119.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[68607,35224,18818,11454,49331],"class_list":["post-2519817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-disaster-declaration","tag-emergency-response","tag-fema","tag-floods","tag-gov-ferguson"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25264136291119.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2519817"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519817\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2519821,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519817\/revisions\/2519821"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2519818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2519817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2519817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2519817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}