US Health Secretary Robert F.Kennedy Jr declared a public health emergency on Wednesday due to severe flooding in Washington state caused by heavy rains and overflowing rivers.
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washingtonstatestandard.comThis emergency declaration is primarily focused on aiding Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who may be particularly vulnerable during such disasters.
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opb.orgThe flooding has led to thousands of evacuations, breached multiple levees, and damaged numerous highways across the region.
opb.orgThe declaration from Kennedy follows an emergency declaration issued by President Donald Trump on December 12, which unlocked federal resources to assist in the response efforts.
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kiro7.commynorthwest.comAs part of the emergency response, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing access to its emPOWER program, which offers data on Medicare enrollees who rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment.
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washingtonstatestandard.comThis information is crucial for ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the necessary health care services during and after the flooding.
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yahoo.comJohn Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), stated, "HHS stands ready to assist state and local response efforts in the state of Washington due to the potential health care impacts from severe storms." He emphasized that the agency is prepared to support local actions to save lives and maintain the delivery of health care services.
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kiro7.commynorthwest.comIn addition to the emergency declaration, HHS has waived penalties for hospitals that may violate federal health privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) during this crisis.
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washingtonstatestandard.comThis waiver is intended to facilitate the provision of care to those affected by the flooding without the concern of legal repercussions for privacy violations.
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yahoo.comThe federal Disaster Distress Helpline is also available for crisis counseling, providing support to those impacted by the disaster.
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opb.orgThe multilingual hotline is accessible 24 hours a day at 1-800-985-5990.
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washingtonstatestandard.comThe emergency declaration is retroactive to December 9, indicating that the situation has been critical for some time.
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opb.orgFurthermore, a windstorm forecasted to hit western Washington could exacerbate existing problems, as saturated soil may lead to fallen trees and power lines.
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washingtonstatestandard.comHowever, the intensity of the windstorm is now expected to be less severe than initially predicted.
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opb.orgWashington Governor Bob Ferguson has indicated plans to request a major disaster declaration from President Trump, which could potentially unlock tens of millions of dollars in federal assistance to address the aftermath of the flooding.
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washingtonstatestandard.comThis request comes as the state continues to grapple with the extensive damage caused by the recent storms.In a related political context, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has filed a lawsuit against Kennedy regarding his administration's stance on gender-affirming care providers, calling it "cruel and unnecessary." This lawsuit marks the 49th legal action taken by Washington against the federal government since Trump took office.
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washingtonstatestandard.comAs the situation develops, state and federal agencies are working together to ensure that residents affected by the flooding receive the necessary support and resources to navigate this challenging time.
