Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in King County. Just one inch of water in an average size home can cause $25,000 of damage.
Standard homeowners, renters, and business insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, meaning you might be left unprotected.
Learn more about who should buy flood insurance, why it’s important, and what you can do to make sure you’ve got the coverage you need as we head into flood season.
Who should buy flood insurance?
It’s important to know that most of King County has a flood risk. Anywhere it rains, it can flood.
According to FEMA, 40 percent of flood insurance claims come from outside high-risk flood zones. This means flood insurance isn’t just for people living and working along rivers, coasts, or in high-risk areas—it’s an important financial safety net for homeowners, renters, and businesses across all parts of King County. You can check your flood risk at home, work, or school by searching for any King County address at kingcounty.gov/FloodMap.
What kind of flood insurance options are available?
Federally backed flood insurance is available to anyone living in one of the 22,700 communities participating in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), including King County.
Private flood insurance may also be available but can be more unpredictable. Private insurance rates can change suddenly and drastically, and private insurers can drop coverage entirely if they choose to. NFIP policies, on the other hand, are guaranteed in participating communities.
Private and federally backed flood insurance can differ in their coverage limits, costs, and waiting periods. Assess your risk and discuss the pros and cons with a knowledgeable insurance agent to find the right plan for your situation.
Why is flood insurance important?
Flood damage can be extremely expensive, but having flood insurance can protect you from taking a major financial hit. Flood insurance through the NFIP covers the cost of damage to building structures and personal belongings, up to your policy limit. If you experience a flood loss, you simply file a claim with your insurance agent, receive payment, and then move forward with repairing your home.
You also don’t need to be a homeowner to benefit from flood insurance. Renters can buy flood insurance to cover the costs of damages to personal belongings in their homes or apartments, even if the structure itself isn’t covered.
If you don’t have insurance, relying on disaster assistance from the federal government is not nearly as certain and is not guaranteed. Disaster assistance only goes into effect if there is a presidential disaster declaration for the flood. Additionally, emergency disaster assistance is not meant to cover the full cost of flood damage, and assistance often comes in the form of loans that need to be repaid.
When is the best time to get flood insurance?
Don’t wait to buy flood insurance. Flood policies typically take 30 days to go into effect after purchase. If you wait until there’s a flood warning, it may be too late to ensure you have coverage for potential flood damage.
Is any financial assistance available?
King County participates in a program called the Community Rating System (CRS). This optional program is part of the NFIP and offers significant insurance discounts for communities that go above and beyond in their floodplain management efforts. King County is one of just a few counties in the country with a Class 2 CRS rating. This means residents of unincorporated King County are eligible for a 40% discount off their flood insurance through the NFIP.
How can I get flood insurance?
Talk with your insurance agent or visit floodsmart.gov to learn more about flood insurance.