How WA property owners can get financial relief after the flood

More than 100,000 Washington residents have been advised to evacuate their homes in the wake of catastrophic flooding across the region. That’s about double the number of Washington homes and businesses that are covered by flood insurance, said Aaron VanTuyl from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

RELATED: Live updates: Rivers have crested, but Western Washington flood threat still looms

“ Flood damage, by and large, is not covered by your typical homeowners insurance policy,” he said.

Instead, property owners would need to have purchased a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program, run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or on the private market, before the flooding event.

“ I think there's the tendency for people to think if they get flooded, maybe it'll only be once, and so is insurance really that important?” VanTuyl said. “But we're seeing more and more bigger events, and so yeah, it is important. I feel terrible for people out there right now that don't have it, that need it.”

There are some opportunities for relief for residents not covered by flood insurance.

VanTuyl also said the insurance commissioner’s office plans to send experts to local disaster recovery centers in areas affected by flooding. They will be available to walk property owners through their insurance policies and discuss options for getting financial relief.

FEMA just declared Washington’s flooding a state of emergency. According to a FEMA spokesperson, this means "FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency."

Correction: This post previously included information from the Washington State Insurance Commissioner's Office which stated that FEMA's declaration of emergency allows individuals / households affected by floods to apply for federal funds to make repairs or pay for temporary housing. According to a FEMA spokesperson, this declaration does not allow for that funding. Rather, "FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency."