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Constituent Resource Page: Weather Emergencies**Find your local emergency management agency here: http://www.emd.wa.gov/myn/myn_contact_info.shtml** If you are having trouble getting your questions answered or are not able to find the information you need below, please contact one of Senator Maria Cantwell’s regional offices where staff will be able to assist you. If you are having trouble identifying the right agency to contact after a storm or flood, or obtaining assistance from a federal agency after a natural disaster, please contact one of Senator Maria Cantwell’s regional offices where staff will be able to provide more information about support services and assist you through the application process.
Latest Information on Weather Emergencies
Latest Information on Weather EmergenciesThere are a number of resources available that provide information about weather-related warnings and emergencies to ensure your family, home or business is better prepared for an emergency. National Weather Service: You can find your local forecast through the National Weather Service’s Washington state webpage. This information is updated every few minutes with the latest weather watches, warnings and advisories for every county in Washington state. The National Weather Service utilizes radar and satellite observations to provide weather forecasts for Washington and the entire United States. Washington State Emergency Management Division: In the event of an emergency the Washington State Emergency Management Division is responsible for coordinating the state’s response and also works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deploy resources. The department also provides up-to-date alerts and announcements on weather events for the public. The Washington State Emergency Management Department has individual websites on disaster preparedness:
When a natural disaster occurs, you can use the Emergency Management Division’s website to find contact information for local emergency management agencies that serve that county that you live in.
Preparedness and Safety for Winter StormsThe primary concern for a winter storm is the possible loss of heat, power and communication services to your home or region for several days. To prepare for this scenario, it is important to consider taking the following steps:
Driving in the SnowIf you must drive in the snow, it is important to take certain precautionary measures and be aware of the following:
Do not leave your car, unless you know exactly where you are, where you are going to get help, and how long it’s going to take you. If you leave your car, leave a note with information about where you went and when you left.
Safety and PreventionProtecting your family and property before a flood: There are a number of preventative actions you can take to protect your home, family and personal property from a flood.
During a flood:
After a flood:
Flood InsuranceBenefits of Flood Insurance: Flooding causes an average of $4.6 billion a year in damages, more than any other severe-weather related event in the United States. Flood losses are not covered by standard homeowner’s insurance policies. Most homeowner's insurance agents sell flood insurance, and you can find out if your community participates in the program by checking the FEMA Community Status Book for Washington State. The average flood insurance premium costs about $400 a year. National Flood Insurance Program: Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to help property owners protect themselves financially. The program offers insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners in communities that participate in the program. In exchange for federally-backed flood insurance, participating communities agree to adopt and enforce floodplain management standards. Community participation is voluntary, and to find out if your community participates, please check the FEMA Community Status Book for Washington State. In addition to providing insurance, the NFIP identifies and maps floodplains throughout the country. This allows the government, business owners, and homeowners to identify risk areas, reduce damages and increase awareness of flood hazards. If you are a resident of a designated High-Risk Area and you receive a federally-backed mortgage, federal law requires that you purchase flood insurance. Your mortgage lender will notify you if you are in a flood hazard zone that requires you to purchase flood insurance. Residents of Moderate-to-Low Risk Areas are not required by law to purchase insurance but it is a good idea to consider purchasing flood insurance, and a private lender may still require it. To determine if you are in a flood zone, you can check your community's Flood Insurance Rate Map at the FEMA Map Service Center. Your lender will notify you if you are buying a home in a High-Risk Area or if FEMA maps are revised to include your property in a High-Risk Area, in which case you would be required to purchase insurance. NFIP flood insurance can be purchased through property insurance agents through over 90 private companies. You cannot purchase insurance directly from the government. Rates are set and do not differ between companies, although there are different types of coverage and the costs vary depending on the property's flood risk. If you are interested in purchasing a flood insurance policy, contact your homeowner's insurance agent to discuss which kind of coverage is right for you. Typically, there is a 30-day waiting period before your policy goes into effect, which means that you must act to protect your property and family in advance of any flood threat. If you do not have an agent and would like to obtain more information about flood insurance policies, please visit the NFIP website. You can also contact the NFIP at (888) 379-9531 to request an agent referral.
Significant federal resources are available to help you in the aftermath of natural disasters. Assistance is administered in the form of direct aid or grants to individuals, families and businesses who have suffered losses that will not be covered by insurance. If your community experiences a flood, it does not automatically qualify for federal disaster assistance. Local and state governments share the responsibility for protecting their residents. However, if the damages caused by a natural disaster overwhelm local governments, a state governor may request a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Washington has received nine Disaster Declarations since 2001, of which six were related to flooding. Please keep in mind that federal disaster assistance is intended to be supplemental relief and should never be treated as a replacement for flood insurance. The average disaster award for an individual and household is $4,000, whereas the average flood claim per household is over $30,000. The most common form of disaster assistance is a loan, which must be paid back with interest. If you are interested in obtaining more information about disaster assistance, you can visit the federal disaster assistance website. By using the tools on this website, such as the disaster assistance questionnaire, you can find out the forms of assistance you may qualify for. |
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