HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Declares Public Health Emergency for Washington to Aid Healthcare Response to Wildfires

Washington, DC – August 7, 2026 – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the state of Washington to address the health impacts of the ongoing wildfires. The fires have threatened communities across the state, disrupting healthcare services and requiring some hospitals and other healthcare facilities to evacuate patients and transfer them to partner facilities to ensure continuity of care.

The declaration follows President Trump’s emergency declaration and gives the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) healthcare providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

“I declared a Public Health Emergency for Washington State to give hospitals and healthcare providers the flexibility they need to respond to these devastating wildfires and protect lives,” said Secretary Kennedy. “In my conversations with Governor Bob Ferguson I made clear that HHS will work alongside state and local leaders to keep care available, support frontline healthcare professionals, and help Washington communities through this emergency. We stand with the people of Washington, and we will not let them face this crisis alone.”

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is coordinating with Washington State officials, local partners, and federal agencies to support the public health and medical response. ASPR has deployed regional staff to the Washington State Emergency Operations Center and the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center and stands ready to provide additional support — including healthcare responders, medical equipment, and supplies — if requested by the state. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are supporting American Red Cross shelter operations in Spokane, while ASPR TRACIE, HHS’ healthcare emergency preparedness information gateway, has shared technical resources on wildfire smoke, burn care, healthcare system preparedness, and responder safety.

“We know these wildfires have placed enormous strain on patients and their families, hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities, emergency responders, and entire communities,” said John Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. “ASPR is prepared to support Washington’s healthcare system by deploying personnel, medical equipment, and other resources as requested so providers can continue delivering care when communities need it most.”

The HHS Disaster Distress Helpline is available to provide disaster crisis counseling. Managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this toll-free, multilingual crisis support service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all residents in the United States and its territories experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. To connect with a trained counselor, call or text 1-800-985-5990.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reached out to the Washington State Department of Health and public health partners to offer technical assistance with environmental health and health and safety messaging. CDC is standing by to support any public health needs.

To support emergency planning and response activities, HHS has made information available through the HHS emPOWER Program, a partnership between ASPR and CMS. The program provides data on Medicare beneficiaries who rely on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment and certain health care services, such as dialysis, oxygen or home healthcare, to help emergency planners identify and support at-risk populations.

In declaring the public health emergency and authorizing flexibilities for CMS hospitals and providers, suppliers and beneficiaries, Secretary Kennedy acted under his authority pursuant to the Public Health Service Act and Social Security Act. These actions and flexibilities are retroactive to August 1, 2026. 
 

# # #