{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","contentId":"0000019b-144f-d13b-a39b-5cff8bd70000","url":"https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/washington-floods-amazon-communities-support","headline":"How Amazon is supporting flood-impacted communities in Washington state","description":"Amazon is donating $3 million and working with local first responders and front-line nonprofits to help communities that have been impacted by flooding in our hometown state.","datePublished":"2025-12-13T18:04:00Z","dateModified":"2026-07-13T22:36:33Z","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Abe Diaz, Head of Amazon’s Disaster Relief Team"}],"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/9d6ceed/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6912x4608+640+0/resize/300x200!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2F5b%2Fbd%2F3c91e94548a3946da1744e60e4dd%2Faa-archive122-disasterresponse-atl7-amazon-8192x5464.JPG","width":"300","height":"200"},"articleBody":"![ATL7 Warehouse worker checks inventory of humanitarian aid supplies in Disaster Relief Hub in Union City, Ga](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/9d6ceed/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6912x4608+640+0/resize/300x200!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2F5b%2Fbd%2F3c91e94548a3946da1744e60e4dd%2Faa-archive122-disasterresponse-atl7-amazon-8192x5464.JPG)\n\n# How Amazon is supporting flood-impacted communities in Washington state\n\n*Amazon is working with local first responders and front-line nonprofits to help communities that have been impacted by flooding in our hometown state.*\n\n![flooding in washington](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/09e043a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x450+0+0/resize/767x431!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2F9e%2F73%2Fab12c63f44f2bf3d192d7079f8ba%2Fflood.jpg)\n\nHistoric flooding across the [Pacific Northwest](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/tag/puget-sound-region) and Washington—our hometown state—has put more than 5 million people under emergency alerts, with over 100,000 people under evacuation orders in western Washington. Amazon is taking immediate action to support our employees and broader communities across impacted areas, mobilizing our [disaster relief services](https://www.aboutamazon.com/impact/community/disaster-relief).\n\nHere is a look at what Amazon is doing to support communities impacted by flooding:\n\n## How Amazon prioritizes safety during Washington flooding\n\nOur top priority is ensuring the safety of our employees and partners. We have a 24/7 operation dedicated to providing alerts and up-to-date information when severe events like this occur to help inform our operational decisions. As we closely monitor the situation, we’re also mobilizing our resources to support those in need and encouraging everyone to prioritize safety and follow guidance from local emergency officials.\n\n## Amazon delivers essential supplies through Disaster Relief hubs and partnerships\n\nAmazon is working with the [American Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/) and [Save the Children](https://www.savethechildren.net/) to donate and deliver essential supplies to shelters in western Washington. Amazon uses the same fast delivery network and cutting-edge technology that get packages to doorsteps every day to deliver essential items to our nonprofit partners on the ground after disasters strike. Supplies are ready to go from our nearest [Disaster Relief hub](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-disaster-relief-programs-hubs-portal) and include hygiene kits, comfort items for children, and medical devices.\n\nAmazon operates [15 Disaster Relief hubs](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-disaster-relief-programs-hubs-portal) around the world to quickly respond to disasters when they strike. Since 2017, Amazon has donated and delivered more than 30 million relief items to support people impacted by more than 200 disasters worldwide. In addition to the Pacific Northwest flood response, Amazon has also recently supported flood-impacted communities in [Southeastern Mexico](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/mexico-flood-amazon-disaster-relief) and [Central Texas.](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/central-texas-flood-amazon-disaster-relief)\n\nLearn more about our [global disaster relief efforts](https://www.aboutamazon.com/impact/community/disaster-relief).\n\n![Humanitarian aid distribution center with Amazon volunteer workers](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/37205cf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5670x3780+525+0/resize/300x200!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2F67%2Fe1%2Fea63e59a4423b2d0eb7bd138b8bf%2Fatl7-0912.jpg)\n\n- [How Amazon’s Disaster Relief hubs help communities when every minute counts](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-disaster-relief-programs-hubs-portal)\n\n![Amazon volunteers in orange shirts sorting items on a table](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/ec1ecb2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x900+0+0/resize/767x431!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2F29%2Fb5%2Ffb9e4ac740c8837d2d0f9d7a7e07%2Fabout-amazon-inline-wa-state-floods-doppler-kitting-event-with-bettina-stix.jpg)\n*Three senior leaders at Amazon -- Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer David Zapolsky, Head of Community Impact Bettina Stix, and Chief Sustainability Officer Kara Hurst--back first-aid kits for flood relief.*\n\nIn response to catastrophic flooding across the Pacific Northwest and Washington, Amazon is supporting emergency relief efforts in our home state with a multi-pronged effort, which includes a $3 million donation, the delivery of more than 50,000 supplies to front-line nonprofits, and the launch of comprehensive employee support services.\n\nOur $3 million donation will support the [WA State Emergency Fund](https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/news/2025/washington-residents-encouraged-support-western-washington-flood-relief), [American Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/local/washington.html), and [United Ways of the Pacific Northwest](https://www.uwpnw.org/).\n\nAnd our Employee Relief Fund is also available to flood-affected Amazon employees seeking financial support, along with free mental health resources. Amazonians across Washington are also stepping up to volunteer, with efforts underway to help neighbors clean up, pack hygiene kits, and donate blood.\n\n“Amazon has stepped up when disasters strike since 2017, contributing more than 30 million in emergency supplies and technology in response to more than 200 disasters around the world. This time, a disaster is impacting communities in our home state of Washington, and we're committed to being the best employer and neighbor that we can be and mobilizing our strengths in volunteering, logistics, and speed to support our teammates and neighbors,” said Bettina Stix, Amazon’s head of community impact .\n\n## More than 50,000 emergency supplies donated to nonprofits\n\nWe’re also using our logistics network to deliver more than 50,000 emergency supplies—including hygiene kits, comfort items for children, and medical devices—to nonprofits on the ground. [Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/) and [Save the Children](https://www.savethechildren.org/) have requested the in-kind donations to stock shelters for evacuees in western Washington. The flooding from heavy rain has forced more than 100,000 people from their homes and has put more than 5 million under flood watches.\n\n“I want to thank Amazon for their rapid support of our state’s official relief fund and their steady commitment to be a good neighbor and employer. Their cash donation combined with their logistics and innovation support is a crucial asset as we respond to challenging and dangerous conditions and look ahead to the regional recovery,” said Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.\n\n## Prioritizing safety and well-being\n\nOur top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees, partners, and neighbors, and we encourage everyone to prioritize safety and follow guidance from local emergency officials because the threat of flooding from atmospheric rivers has not yet passed.\n\n\"Our work at Amazon extends far beyond business—it's about being there for our neighbors when they need us most,\" said Amazon's chief global affairs and legal officer [David Zapolsky](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7405656318956564480/?originTrackingId=vOSXSb0eX8kYm1Z%2FFzw54A%3D%3D).\n\nAs part of our work to keep our teammates and partners safe, we have a 24/7 operation dedicated to providing alerts and up-to-date information when severe events like this occur to help inform our operational decisions. Our meteorologists, operations leaders, and safety experts remain focused on closely monitoring conditions, sharing information, conducting wellness checks, and minimizing customer impacts.\n\nThis is all part of our broader global disaster relief program, which includes [15 Disaster Relief hubs](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-disaster-relief-programs-hubs-portal) around the world that let us quickly respond to disasters when they strike and donate and deliver relief supplies and technology to help communities quickly recover. In addition to the Pacific Northwest flood response, Amazon has also recently supported flood-impacted communities in [Southeastern Mexico](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/mexico-flood-amazon-disaster-relief) and [Central Texas.](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/central-texas-flood-amazon-disaster-relief)\n\nLearn more about our [global disaster relief efforts](https://www.aboutamazon.com/impact/community/disaster-relief).\n\n![Community cleanup event with volunteer handling garden tools](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/ff3cdc5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x900+0+0/resize/767x431!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2F8a%2F6a%2F5bdfdc3d4d82889b3972eada6dd6%2Fryder-sumas-5-2.jpg)\n*Siresh Pachava, an Amazon employee, and his son, Mihir, helped during flood cleanup efforts in Sumas, Washington, on Dec. 20, 2025.*\n\nWhen dangerous floods hit western Washington just days before Christmas, a special delivery from Amazon meant a lot to Ashlie Coffin, a mom of two whose home near Monroe, Washington, was flooded.\n\nAmazon delivered coloring books and toys to set up a child-friendly room at the shelter where Ms. Coffin found refuge with her sons.\n\n“It’s great to see a community come together to help people in need, especially so close to the holidays,” Ms. Coffin said.\n\nThe toys were among more than 75,000 supplies Amazon donated and delivered in the hours and days after the floods as part of a multi-pronged effort to respond to destructive rains, winds, and landslides in our home state.\n\n## More than 75,000 emergency supplies donated to nonprofits\n\n![Delivery of Amazon-sponsored humanitarian supplies to Everson Public Works](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/f25451f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x900+0+0/resize/767x431!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2Fe0%2F71%2F86e620234f1190858dd09b90e6cb%2Fabout-amazon-inline-msb7253mod.jpg)\n*Charles Knutson, of Amazon, and Ashley Butenschoen, of the Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group, stand with disaster relief supplies donated and shipped by Amazon to Everson, Washington, on Wed., Dec. 17, 2025.*\n\nAmazon also donated $3 million to support the [WA State Emergency Fund](https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/news/2025/washington-residents-encouraged-support-western-washington-flood-relief), [American Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/local/washington.html), and [United Ways of the Pacific Northwest](https://www.uwpnw.org/). Flood-affected Amazon employees were offered financial support from Amazon’s Employee Relief Fund.\n\n“We can always depend on Amazon when the need is great,” said Washington State Representative Alex Ybarra, one of several state officials who praised Amazon’s response to the floods.\n\n## Expansive relief effort inspires Amazon employees\n\n![Amazon volunteers in orange shirts sorting items at a table](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/1e8e72a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x900+0+0/resize/767x431!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2F03%2Ff5%2F750ab6bb4aeeb33af32b5bec481f%2Fabout-amazon-inline-wa-state-floods-doppler-kitting-event-1.jpg)\n*Amazonians pack first-aid kits during a volunteering event for flood relief on Dec. 18, 2025.*\n\nAfter atmospheric rivers caused historic flooding and forced more than 100,000 people from their homes in western Washington, Amazon:\n\n- Supported recovery efforts in Everson, Monroe, and Sumas, Washington, in partnership with six organizations, including the [American Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/local/washington.html), [Family Promise of Skagit Valley](https://www.familypromiseskagit.org/), [Friends of Youth](https://www.friendsofyouth.org/), [Save the Children](https://www.savethechildren.org/), [Whatcom Long-term Recovery Group](https://www.whatcomstrong.com/), and [United Ways of the Pacific Northwest](https://www.uwpnw.org/).\n- Hosted 13 emergency volunteering events with Amazon employees who packed 1,700 hygiene and first-aid kits, cleaned up debris, and sorted emergency supplies.\n- Donated and delivered tarps, cleanup equipment, medical devices, and more to help communities recover as quickly as possible from the floods.\n\nSince 2017, Amazon has donated and delivered more than 30 million relief items to support people impacted by more than 200 disasters worldwide. In addition to the Washington flood response, Amazon has also recently supported flood-impacted communities in [Southeastern Mexico](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/mexico-flood-amazon-disaster-relief) and [Central Texas.](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/central-texas-flood-amazon-disaster-relief)\n\n[Learn more about our global disaster relief efforts](https://www.aboutamazon.com/impact/community/disaster-relief).","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"About Amazon","url":"https://www.aboutamazon.com","sameAs":["https://x.com/amazonnews","https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon","https://www.instagram.com/amazonnews"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://assets.aboutamazon.com/bd/8f/88e7b0314cc2bd05b9de3155a0fe/amazon-news.svg"},"parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Amazon","url":"https://www.amazon.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3884","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_(company)","https://x.com/Amazon"]}}}