Article Out Loud – Washington Flood Response 2025: From Training to Activation

This is an article by the National Tribal Emergency Management Council and the United States Volunteers – Joint Services Command, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 18, 2026.The December 2025 flooding in western Washington state marked the first full-scale activation of National Tribal Emergency Management Council authorities. The response in the Snohomish Valley demonstrated the strength of a Tribal-led, Incident Command System–aligned emergency management framework. Learn about the 2025 flood response which now stands as a model to other parts of the country for coordinated, Tribal-led disaster response.Now to the featured article.