Gov. Bob Ferguson says ‘no reported loss of life’ due to WA’s historic flooding
Gov. Bob Ferguson on Friday said that there has been no loss of life reported at this time due to Washington state’s historic flooding.
Ferguson delivered the update at a Dec. 12 news conference at the Segale Levee in Tukwila. Adjutant General Gent Welsh, Emergency Management Director Robert Ezell and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay were scheduled to join him.
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, was present at the news conference as well.
“The situation is very dynamic, but we’re exceedingly grateful and thankful that our prayer has been answered, that at this time, no loss of life has occurred,” Ferguson said.
The news event came hours after Ferguson announced that the Trump administration had green-lit the state’s request for emergency assistance. The governor had put in the request with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday, when he also declared a statewide emergency.
Ferguson noted that the emergency declaration doesn’t guarantee the state will receive federal money. He recalled that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told him that there is a potential for resources to assist the state in the short term.
Water levels have been historic and will stay high for some time, putting pressure on infrastructure, Ferguson said.
“Whether it’s individuals or whether that’s impacts to local jurisdictions, to our infrastructure, there’s going to be massive impacts as we dig ourselves out from this,” he said. “The one thing I can guarantee is we’ll move as quickly as we can.”
Ezell said that on Thursday night, the state saw all but one of its rivers crest, with several hitting “maximum flood stage.” Another on the east side is expected to crest sometime Saturday, he said. It will take a while for floodwaters to diminish.
He forecasted that rivers will rise once more amid wet weather arriving early next week, although most aren’t expected to return to this week’s levels. It’s possible that the Skagit River could reach major flood stage again, he said.
“The situation remains very fluid. It’s dangerous,” Ezell said. “... Please heed the warnings of first responders and keep yourselves safe.”
This comes as evacuation orders are ending across parts of Pierce County. A Friday news release from Pierce County asked residents and businesses to log damages to help the county take stock of the destruction. It noted that such reporting helps to determine needs and could be required before disaster assistance from the state or federal levels is available.
The county’s webpage for recovery information and making a report is piercecountywa.gov/reportdamage.
Reporting damage is an important first step in determining community needs and may be required before state or federal disaster assistance becomes available.
In Western Washington, 100,000 people were asked to evacuate their homes, KUOW reported Thursday.
Barbara LaBoe, the Washington State Department of Transportation’s acting deputy communications director, told McClatchy that the situation remains very fluid as incidents close some roads while others are reopening. The road-closure total is fluctuating on a nearly hourly basis, LaBoe said in an email.
As of 12:40 p.m. Friday, storms have prompted more than 20 state road closures in 11 of 39 counties, LaBoe said.
“Cross state travel is open but two of those routes, US 12 and US 2 do have closures that would require detouring around,” she continued.
Brian Nielsen, northwest region administrator with WSDOT, urged drivers to heed road closures. If there is a sign indicating a closure, then it has been placed there for a reason, he said at Friday’s news conference.
Standing water can pose a serious hazard, he added. Even six inches of water can lead cars to stall while a foot of water can prompt them to float.
Nielsen asked the public to stay informed and plan ahead.
Although flooding dangers appear to be diminishing, LaBoe said, the soil remains saturated. That means the risk for downed trees and landslides is still significant and will remain that way for “at least the next week or so,” she added.
WSDOT provides up-to-date closure information in its real-time travel map on its website, wsdot.com/Travel/Real-time/Map.
Travelers can receive updates and alerts and find out about pass conditions on WSDOT’s free mobile app at wsdot.wa.gov/travel/mobile-app-and-social-media.
This story was originally published December 12, 2025 at 2:35 PM.
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