Residents asked to report storm damage

Published 4:12 pm Thursday, April 30, 2009

Following the significant windstorm that occurred throughout portions of Eastern King County last week, King County residents and businesses are being asked to report damages to the King County Office of Emergency Management.

There are only a couple of days remaining to file information.

"In order for homeowners and businesses to potentially be eligible for federal disaster assistance, counties must collect and report information on the extent of uninsured damages to private property to Washington state emergency management officials," Eric Holdeman, director of King County's Office of Emergency Management, said.

"We need to hear from our residents and businesses of any uninsured wind damage they have experienced," Holdeman added. "Additionally, businesses may be eligible for Small Business Administration's economic injury programs based on a loss of sales or an increase in expenses due to the wind storm."

Residents and businesses in King County that suffered wind damage should call the Office of Emergency Management at 206-296-3830. Damage reports will be taken from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday.

Callers should have the following information available:

€ property address;

€ type of insurance (home owners);

€ total amount of loss; and

€ percent of loss that is insured.

It is not necessary at this point for property owners to have a contractor's estimate. Businesses, which have suffered an economic injury, will be given additional details on information that is needed when they call.