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E Newsletter- Your Update on What's Happening at the King County Council
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How to take precautions to protect your household, property, or business in the event of a natural disaster.
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The damage left in the wake of Hurricane Harvey is an urgent reminder for all of us, especially those living in a floodplain, for the need for flood insurance to help in the recovery after the waters recede.
A 2013 study reported there are 32,000 residents living in a King County floodplain. The same study showed there are only 7,200 flood insurance policies in ALL of King County—this includes both cities and unincorporated communities.
In comparison, in Harris County, Texas—which includes the city of Houston—there are 251,920 policies in force, with 119,000 of them in Houston alone.
I’d encourage anyone living in a flood prone area to strongly consider buying flood insurance. A standard insurance policy will not cover flood damage. It takes 30 days for a policy to take effect, and thanks to the hard work of the King County Flood Control District, residents living in flood-prone areas of unincorporated King County can receive a 40 percent reduction in premium costs.
For more information on the important services King County Flood Control District provides including free, automated flood alerts and flood preparedness videos click here.
Advocating for Open Space in Fairwood
When properties determined to be surplussed around Molasses Creek were about to be put up for sale, I wrote a letter to the Director of King County’s Facilities Management Division presenting the opportunity to preserve the area as open space. An open space designation would ensure the land would be protected as a valuable riparian corridor, providing protection for migrating fish, and could provide future opportunities for passive recreation.
On Monday, the legislation I sponsored to enact this designation was introduced. I will continue to advocate for this conservation action going forward.
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