Homeowners Insurance does not typically cover flooding.
A top priority for flood preparedness is to purchase flood insurance. Go to our Flood Insurance page for more information.
HAVE A FAMILY PLAN
- Know your home’s vulnerability to flooding and debris flows.
- Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home. In certain circumstances, the safest areas may not be in your home but within your community.
- Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.
- Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact so all your family members have a single point of contact.
- Make a plan now for what to do with your pets should you need to evacuate.
- Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.
- Check your insurance coverage. Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.
- Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit.
- Use a NOAA weather radio, if there is coverage in your location. Remember to replace its batteries every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.
- Take First Aid, CPR, and disaster preparedness classes.
- Have an Emergency Supply Kit
- Stay informed before and during any potential event; know where to obtain National Weather Service Outlooks, Watches and Warnings (see our Weather page for more info)
- Be alert if any rain develops. Do not wait for a warning to evacuate should heavy rain develop.
- Call 911 if you are caught in a Flash Flood or Debris Flow
- Know how you will receive weather information and emergency warnings. Remote areas may not have reliable cell service or NOAA Weather Radio signals, but there may be local emergency alert programs to sign up for.
Before-the-flood safety information from National Weather Service is available on the web here.
Property Protection information from NRCS is available here or visit our Community Assistance Program Guide page.
Contact local officials for additional risk information and potential mitigation efforts.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
If your property is located in an area in danger of post-fire flooding, remove hazardous materials such as chemicals from your home and outbuildings. You may move the hazardous materials to a location that is not in danger of flooding, or for information on disposal locations in Washington, click here.