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Flood recovery
A round up of resources from across King County to help you respond to and recover from the extensive December 2025 flooding in our region.
Updates and information about severe weather conditions
The King County Emergency News blog has the latest information about evacuations and open shelters.
Sign up for ALERT King County to get free, real-time notifications about potential hazards and threats in your area.
Check our Flood Warning app for real-time river level information
Whether you rent or own, property damage caused by flooding can feel overwhelming and stressful. These resources are meant to help you navigate the next steps as safely and easily as possible.
Health and safety tips when entering flooded property
- Turn off utilities before re-entering.
- Do NOT touch electrical equipment while touching water - call your utility to disconnect.
- Avoid touching flood water and wash hands (and pets).
- Wear an N95 mask, gloves, goggles, and protective gear when cleaning.
- Open windows and doors and pump out water after flood waters recede. Mold can grow within 24-48 hours after a flood.
- Throw away any garden produce and food that has touched flood water.
- Food in sealed containers can be used if washed before opening.
- If you have a flooded septic system, don't use your septic system during a flood. Disinfect your septic system after the flood. After flooding subsides, contact an on-site sewage system maintainer to check that the flooding did not damage your septic system.
- If you have a flooded private water system or well, use only bottled, boiled (rolling boil for 1 minute), or treated water. Review the information about flooding on our drinking water emergencies page.
Public Health - Seattle & King County has more flood health and safety resources (in 26 languages) available, including:
- What to wear before entering a home or building with mold damage
- What you can safely keep
- Soil and garden safety
Resources for property and business owners
The information below will help you report impacts to your home or property, and understand the resources that may become available to help you.
Report damage
Our impact surveys help King County estimate of the dollar amount of damages in our area. This informs if we can apply for disaster assistance from the federal government, which may include assistance for impacted individuals and businesses.
- Residential damage (King County Office of Emergency Management Residential Impact Survey)
- Business damage: (King County Office of Emergency Management Business Impact Survey)
When you are assessing your damage and filling out the survey, these are the definitions for each level of damage:
- Affected
- Waterline in the crawl space or unfinished basement
- Damage to attached structures, gutters, landscaping, or downed trees that do not block access
- No damage to essential living spaces or mechanical systems
- Minor Damage
- Waterline below electrical outlets on the lowest floor with essential living space
- Damage or contamination to a private well or septic system
- Major Damage
- Waterline at or above electrical outlets in essential living spaces
- Waterline on the first floor, even if the basement is fully submerged
- Destroyed
- Collapse of major structural components (foundation, walls, roof)
- Waterline at or above the ceiling of a living space
- Only the foundation remains
- Home is at immediate risk (landslide, mudslide, sinkhole)
Note: Damage may be considered major even if water stays below electrical outlets when:
- Flooding lasted a long time
- Water contained sewage, fuel, or chemicals
- Mechanical systems in the basement were damaged
Document and file a home damage claim (Insurance and FEMA)
Information on how to apply for FEMA assistance will be provided if Washington state receives a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
Accurate documentation is essential for insurance and potential FEMA assistance.
- Gather your information: Have your home insurance policy number, insurance company contact information, and personal details ready.
- Document the disaster: Record the date, time, cause of damage, and a detailed description of what happened.
- Make a list of damaged or missing property: List everything that is damaged or missing. Take clear photos and videos of all damage, inside and outside your home.
- Save all receipts: Keep receipts for repairs, replacements, and any disaster-related costs. These may be reimbursed. If you use a contractor, make sure you verify their registration with Washington Labor and Industries.
- Act quickly: Photograph and record damage before cleaning up, repairing, or discarding items.
- Record serial numbers: Document serial numbers for electronics and appliances when possible.
- File your claim or apply for assistance. If your area is approved for FEMA assistance, you will need to apply online or by phone. During your assessment, clearly describe all damage and impacts.
Homeowners insurance and mold
Most standard homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover mold, fungi, rust, or rot. Mold is usually treated as a maintenance issue rather than sudden disaster damage.
Check your policy or speak with your agent to confirm your coverage.
Property repairs in unincorporated King County
You may need a permit to fix property damage.
Video: Get a permit to fix property damage as a result of a natural disaster (YouTube)
If you'd like an inspector to assess damage, report their findings, and let you know about any permitting requirements they find, you can apply for a property damage assessment inspection at MyBuildingPermit.com.
Washington Labor & Industries has additional home repair resources related to natural disasters
Property tax relief
If your personal or business property has been damaged/destroyed, you may qualify for property tax relief.
Clean-up and debris disposal
You can bring garbage, recycling and yard waste to King County solid waste facilities. Explore the facilities guide for information about accepted materials (available in 7 languages).
We are also working with our partners to establish debris collection sites outside of our regular facilities. Locations and more information will be shared with residents as soon as possible.
Free flood debris disposal on weekends
King County Solid Waste will accept flood debris, including yard waste and garbage, free of charge at 3 facilities on Saturdays and Sundays, December 20 through January 11. On these days, there will be no charge for flood debris brought to these stations:
- Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station
- Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station
- Enumclaw Recycling and Transfer Station
Note: Outside of these dates, facilities remain open during their normal hours, and disposal fees apply.
If you are able, please sort your materials before dropping off flood debris.
- Separate yard waste from garbage
- Keep hazardous waste apart from other debris.
Hazardous waste
Hazardous materials can leak harmful toxins into floodwater and put you, your home, family and community at risk. These materials include:
- Batteries
- Old paint
- Lawn care products
- Other chemicals These materials can only be disposed of at certain King County locations. Disposal and collection of hazardous waste is free! Don’t put it in the trash.
What to do with hazardous waste after a flood
- If any hazardous products got wet or damaged, set them aside in a safe spot until you can bring them in for proper disposal.
- Do not open the containers or try to empty them. Leave the labels on so staff can tell what the product is.
- If something is leaking, place the whole container inside a sturdy bin or bucket to keep the mess contained.
- Keep everything away from kids and pets.
- If you have hazardous product spills:
- Only try to clean up spills once the water has gone down and the area is dry and aired out.
- Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection while you clean.
- Do not mix products while you clean. Some chemicals react when they touch each other.
If you have any questions, contact the Hazardous Waste team at haz.waste@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-4692.
Used sandbags
- Sandbags that came into contact with floodwater are usually considered contaminated.
- If your sandbag is rain-soaked but did not touch floodwater, you may save it for reuse. Dry out the bag before storing to prevent mold and damage.
- Take your used sandbags to a King County solid waste facility. Disposal fees apply.
- Do not pour sand from sandbags onto streets or in your yard, down a drain, or into any lakes, rivers, or streams. This can cause dangerous conditions for drivers and harm our storm drains and wetlands.
Damaged vehicles or vessels? Do not abandon them!
Abandoned vehicles and vessels may be subject to fines or fees. Vehicles or vessels may be towed away at the property owner’s expense by a state-registered tow service. Contact your insurance company for additional guidance if needed.