WSEMA! Tax Day was this week, and you know the deal. They already know how much you owe. They’ve got the number. It exists. Somewhere. But instead of just telling you, they hand you a stack of forms and say, “You figure it out.” And you’re like, “Okay…or you could just tell me?” And they’re like, “No, no…that’s not how this works. But also, if you get it wrong, we will absolutely let you know.”
It tracks, though. Seems we like the processes where the answer exists, but you still have to navigate three forms, two portals, and a vague set of instructions to get there!
Anywho, hope you all rounded correctly.
This week will be quick and light. Let’s do this!
Emergency Management in Washington
- Federal Disaster Declaration: FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Washington to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides from December 5-19, 2025.
- Department of Ecology Issues Drought Declaration: On April 8, 2026, Ecology issued a drought declaration for all watersheds in the state due to low snowpack and multiple years of precipitation deficits.
- Swarm of Earthquakes Off WA Coast: A swarm of earthquakes occurred at the Juan de Fuca Ridge this week. They were about 250 miles offshore. So, no real impact and non-alarming but still one of those “hey, nature is doing stuff” moments. See, even the ocean floor has hobbies!
- WA State Healthcare Situational Awareness Brief: The number of hospitalized patients with RSV is low and consistent with previous weeks. COVID and influenza numbers are very low and continue to decrease. Adult ED visits have increased over the past several days, while Pediatric ED volumes are similar to last week’s numbers. Adult ICU and acute bed availability are in line with recent trends. Pediatric ICU and acute bed availability have been highly variable over the past week. Hospital and ED boarders have remained relatively flat throughout the state.
Training and Resources
- ICS Courses: They’re back baby! Effective April 16, 2026, FEMA has restored access to its Independent Study. However, FEMA’s staffing and operations are still impacted by the lapse in appropriations. If users experience technical problems, FEMA staff are unable to provide assistance at this time.
- WA State Training: Check out trainings happening across the state. To view and register for training, visit the Washington State EMD Training Calendar.
Closing Note
That’s all I’ve got. Take care this weekend. And if the week felt fast, don’t worry…Monday will show up right on time!
Kyle