US Health Secretary Robert F.Kennedy Jr declared a public health emergency on Wednesday in response to severe flooding in Washington state caused by heavy rains and overflowing rivers.
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washingtonstatestandard.comThis declaration is particularly focused on assisting Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who may be vulnerable during such disasters.
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mynorthwest.comThe flooding has led to thousands of evacuations, breached multiple levees, and caused significant damage to highways across the region.
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washingtonstatestandard.comyahoo.comAlthough the flooding did not reach the levels initially forecasted, it has resulted in at least one reported death.
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washingtonstatestandard.comKennedy's declaration is retroactive to December 9, when the severe weather began impacting the area.
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mynorthwest.comIn conjunction with this emergency declaration, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing access to HHS emPOWER, a program that offers data on Medicare enrollees who rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment.
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washingtonstatestandard.comkiro7.comThis information is crucial for ensuring that those who depend on such equipment have continuous access to necessary healthcare services during and after the storm.
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mynorthwest.comJohn Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), emphasized that HHS is prepared to assist state and local response efforts due to the potential health care impacts from the severe storms.
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mynorthwest.comThe agency has also waived certain penalties under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to facilitate the sharing of health information necessary for disaster response.
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hhs.govThe declaration could enhance Washington state's chances of receiving a major disaster declaration from President Trump, which would unlock federal resources to aid in recovery efforts.
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washingtonstatestandard.comGovernor Bob Ferguson is expected to request such a declaration in the coming weeks.
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washingtonstatestandard.comAs the state grapples with the aftermath of the flooding, a windstorm is forecasted to hit western Washington, potentially exacerbating existing issues by making trees and power lines more susceptible to falling due to saturated soil.
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yahoo.comHowever, the intensity of the windstorm is now expected to be less severe than initially predicted.
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washingtonstatestandard.comIn addition to the emergency measures, the federal Disaster Distress Helpline is available for those in need of crisis counseling.This multilingual hotline operates 24 hours a day and can be reached via call or text at 1-800-985-5990.
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washingtonstatestandard.comThe public health emergency declaration highlights the ongoing challenges that severe weather events pose to health care providers and the importance of coordinated response efforts to protect vulnerable populations.
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hhs.govAs the situation develops, state and federal agencies are working together to ensure that residents affected by the flooding receive the care and support they need.
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mynorthwest.comyahoo.comIn a related political context, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has filed a lawsuit against Kennedy regarding his administration's stance on gender-affirming care, 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.comThe declaration by Kennedy and the ongoing response efforts underscore the critical intersection of health care and emergency management in the face of natural disasters.
