Residents Urged To Prep For Floods, Get Flood Insurance

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OLYMPIA – October 21-27 is Flood Awareness Week in Thurston County, and county leaders are encouraging residents to prepare for winter storms that often bring floods by checking their emergency kits, making plans with family members, and getting flood insurance before disaster strikes.

“All too often, people don’t think about flood insurance until after a flood has damaged their home, so we’re doing flood awareness week to get people thinking about insurance and preparedness now, before a big winter storms hit” said Kathy Estes, Manager of Thurston County Emergency Management.

Because of efforts made by Thurston County to prepare for flooding and mitigate flood damage, flood insurance rates for Thurston County residents with National Flood Insurance Program policies are now discounted 25 percent. But property owners and renters should move quickly because policies with the National Flood Insurance Program have a 30-day waiting period between the first payment and when the policy goes into effect. And while most standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damage, National Flood Insurance Program policies, available through most insurance companies, pay claims whether or not a federal disaster is declared. Go to www.floodsmart.gov or call the National Flood Insurance Program at 1-888-379-9531 to learn more about your flood insurance options and private insurance companies who handle policies for the federal program in your area.

The Thurston County Emergency Management Division recently published their annual Flood Bulletin that has additional information about flood insurance, as well as preparedness tips and information about the county’s phone alert system and National Weather Service alert systems. Contact the Thurston County Emergency Management Division at (360) 867-2800 to get a copy of the Flood Bulletin, or go to www.co.thurston.wa.us/em to download an electronic copy.

Stay connected with TCEM with social media. Get Thurston County Emergency Management updates on Facebook and Twitter:

Facebook: Thurston County EM

Twitter: @ThurstonEM

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