STATE OF WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR BOB FERGUSON
 

EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR

25-07

December Atmospheric River and Winter Weather Event,
Emergency Assistance, and Truck Driver Hours Waiver
 

WHEREAS, a significant atmospheric river and winter weather event began on December 2, 2025, producing high winds, heavy snowfall, ice accumulation, and extreme rainfall resulting in major coastal, river, and localized flooding, saturated soils, landslides, stream bank and slope erosion, fallen trees and tree limbs, and flying debris, which have caused impacts across Washington state resulting in hazardous conditions affecting the people of Washington, homes, property, businesses, agriculture, transportation systems, and the state economy; and

WHEREAS, the extreme winter weather pattern that began on December 2, 2025, is expected to continue for several days, and the expected continued rain and snow at mountain elevations will exacerbate flooding conditions; and

WHEREAS, the flooding, landslides, mudslides, bank erosion, and wind damage have necessitated road closures, the establishment of alternate transportation routes, and evacuations, have impacted local utility services including significant power outages, and have damaged homes and other public and private property and infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the impacts of the extreme weather event are causing and are anticipated to cause injuries to the people of Washington and to severely impact agriculture, supply chains, transportation infrastructure, and the economy throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, road closures and other impacts from the extreme weather event have increased transportation distances and times for essential intrastate collection and delivery of agricultural feed and dairy farm products and supplies by motor carriers and drivers of commercial motor vehicles to and from production, processing, and distribution facilities; and

WHEREAS, commercial drivers cannot complete deliveries or provide services within the time limits prescribed by commercial motor vehicle driver hours of service rules, and available trucks cannot be dispatched because commercial drivers have exhausted current hour limitations, leading to current and expected impacts on livestock feed and dairy farm product and supply delivery; and

WHEREAS, the current and expected effects from this extreme weather event impact the life and health of the people as well as the property and infrastructure of Washington state, all of which is a public disaster that affects life, health, property, or the public peace requiring the use of search and rescue assets to save lives; and
 
WHEREAS, state agencies and local jurisdictions are coordinating resources to address damaged property and infrastructure, assess damage caused by the storms, and implement repairs;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bob Ferguson, Governor of the state of Washington, as a result of the above-noted situation and under Chapters 38.52 and 43.06 RCW, do hereby proclaim that a State of Emergency exists throughout the entire state of Washington, and direct that the plans and procedures in the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented. State agencies and departments are directed to utilize state resources in accordance with the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and to do everything reasonably possible to assist affected political subdivisions in an effort to respond to and recover from this extreme weather event.

FURTHERMORE, under the provisions of RCW 43.06.220, to preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace, I also find, based on the above situation, that motor carriers and drivers of commercial motor vehicles delivering livestock feed products and dairy farm products and supplies are providing emergency relief during an emergency under 49 CFR §390.23. Pursuant to 49 CFR § 390.23(b), they are therefore exempt, for fourteen (14) days from the date of this Proclamation, from the application of the driver hours of service rules in 49 CFR § 395, as adopted into Washington law by RCW 46.32.020 and WAC 446-65-010.

I also hereby prohibit motor carriers and drivers of commercial motor vehicles identified above from applying the waiver and suspension of driver hours of service rules as follows:

1. Motor carriers are prohibited from operating under the terms of this exemption if either of the following conditions exist:
   a. They have an out-of-service order in effect; or
   b. They do not possess a current safety rating of “Satisfactory” or better assigned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or the state in which the motor carrier has its principal place of business.

2. Motor carriers I have not prohibited from operating under the terms of this exemption are prohibited from:
   a. Requiring or permitting a fatigued or ill driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle; and
   b. Requiring or permitting a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle after the driver has informed the carrier (verbally or in writing) that he or she needs immediate rest, unless the driver has first received at least ten consecutive hours off-duty documented in writing by the motor carrier; and
   c. Requiring or permitting a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle after the driver has been on duty for more than 96 hours in any 8 consecutive days, unless the driver has first received at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty documented in writing by the motor carrier.

I ask motor carriers for livestock feed and dairy farm products and supplies to use their best judgment in operating under this exemption in a manner that ensures public health and safety.
 
ADDITIONALLY, as a result of this extreme weather event, pursuant to RCW 38.08.040, I also hereby authorize members of the Washington National Guard and Washington State Guard to serve on temporary state active duty as needed to protect life, health, property, or the public peace from the hazards discussed above, from December 9, 2025, through December 31, 2025, as may be necessary and deemed appropriate in the opinion of The Adjutant General, to perform such duties as directed by competent authority of the Washington Military Department in addressing this situation.

Unless earlier rescinded, superseded, or extended as allowed by law, the waivers, suspensions, and prohibitions in this Proclamation shall remain in effect for fourteen (14) days after its issuance.

Signed and sealed with the official seal of the state of Washington this 10th day of December A.D., two thousand and twenty-five at Olympia, Washington.

                                                                           By:

                                                                           Bob Ferguson
                                                                           Governor

BY THE GOVERNOR

Secretary of State