County pushes for residents to get flood insurance ahead of possible winter flooding

Thurston County encourages community members to prepare for the coming winter’s possible floods as part of its Flood Awareness Week, which is this week.

According to its press release, Thurston County residents are urged to check their emergency kits, coordinate with their families, and arrange flood insurance “before disaster strikes.”

Part of the county’s efforts is offering a 40% discount on flood insurance to residents of unincorporated areas of Thurston County and a 10% discount for areas identified as not prone to floods.

"The clock is ticking. With a mandatory 30-day waiting period once you make your initial premium payment, every second counts,” said Kyle Bustad, Thurston County Emergency Management Manager. “We're focusing this week on encouraging residents to get flood insurance now before storm season sets in. Get your flood insurance today."

According to Thurston County, floods are the most common natural hazards in the county, which experiences an average annual rainfall of 50 inches.

“Thurston County’s top-rated floodplain management programs have helped reduce flood damage and encouraged property owners and residents in flood hazard areas to obtain flood insurance at a reduced price,” the county reported. “The county completed several flood mitigation and preparedness actions, receiving a high Community Rating System score from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).”

With traditional homeowner insurance excluding flood damage in its policies, the county’s press release recommended homeowners get national flood insurance as a “financial safety net for flood-induced damages.”

Community members can also sign up to the Thurston Community Alert (TC Alert), the county’s official emergency notification system.

“With TC Alert, you can get alerts to your smartphone or other devices including flood warnings, evacuation notices and instructions, or severe weather alerts,” Thurston explained.