The December 2025 statewide floods showed that everyday care infrastructure becomes emergency infrastructure when a community needs it most. In Whatcom County, we contracted with the County to stand up the Human Services Branch within the Emergency Operations Center, providing operational support, housing coordination, and cross-sector collaboration. We convened Community Response Network calls across Whatcom and Skagit counties to connect organizations, local governments, and recovery partners in real time.
- Emergency hotel stabilization was activated in both counties:
- Whatcom County: 123 individuals, including 43 children, received 1,300+ nights of shelter while coordinating placements, case management, and recovery support
- Skagit County: 131 individuals received hotel lodging and recovery assistance through trusted community partners
The Hub network then connected displaced households to food assistance, transportation, benefits navigation, and behavioral health services, improving coordination and delivery effectiveness. Ongoing training with CBWs on rapid-response practices and coordination enables continuous optimization of these efforts.
