The King County Flood Control District’s Home Elevations & Buyouts Program is part of an effort to protect people and property in flood-prone areas of unincorporated King County and the City of Snoqualmie. In general, any structure located in a flood-prone area of unincorporated King County and the City of Snoqualmie may be eligible for this program. Structures covered by flood insurance with a history of repetitive flooding and those properties identified as part of a project in the 2006 Flood Hazard Management Plan are more likely to be given priority. Participation in the Home Elevations & Buyouts Program is completely voluntary and does not involve any condemnation procedures.
Program Types & Eligibility
In general, any structure located in flood-prone area of these locations may be eligible for this program. Structures covered by flood insurance with a history of repetitive flooding and those properties identified as part of a project in the 2006 Flood Hazard Management Plan will be more likely to be given priority. Participation in the home elevations and buyout program is completely voluntary and does not involve any condemnation procedures.
Home Elevation
A home elevation raises the finished floor of a home above the 100-year elevation, substantially reducing the threat of future damage. This allows the residents to remain on the property, and preserves existing local housing. Home elevation projects are more appropriate in areas that experience slower moving water.
The Flood District will provide up to 90% of the home elevation cost, while the homeowner funds the remainder of the costs.
Since 2008, the King County Flood Control District has completed 66 home elevations, acquired 215 at-risk properties and 600 acres valued at approximately $66 million.
Home Buyout
A home buyout is the voluntary sale of flood-prone properties and structures to the Flood District. Buyouts are best suited for areas where there is significant flood risk due to fast-moving waters, channel migration, or bank erosion. A home buyout provides a permanent solution to the risk and damage of repetitive flooding and significantly reduces the public costs associated with county, state and federal agencies’ emergency response actions. Additionally, removing the structure after the home buyout creates a permanent open space that can naturally receive water, improves flood water storage and conveyance, and improves or creates habitat.
Next Steps
There are several ways to determine if your home is located in a floodplain and potentially eligible for the home elevation and buyout progam:
- Check out your property address in King County iMap and activate “flooding info” in the layers list.
- If your home is located in unincorporated King County, contact King County, the Flood District’s primary service provider, at 206-477-4812.
- The Flood Control District’s service provider for home elevations and buyouts within the City of Snoqualmie are the city staff who can be reached at 425-888-5435.
Elevation Certificate
An Elevation Certificate identifies key features of your property, such as its location, flood zone, building characteristics, and most importantly, the elevation of its lowest floor. Having an Elevation Certificate is crucial for understanding how your building’s elevation compares to the estimated height of floodwaters during a major flood. This information provides a clear picture of your compliance with floodplain ordinances, helps determine your flood risk, and influences the cost of your flood insurance premium.
If your home or business is located in a high flood risk area, your mortgage lender may require you to purchase flood insurance, and if your home loan is going to be insured by the federal government, you may be required to obtain an Elevation Certificate before the loan will be approved. Even if obtaining an Elevation Certificate is not required, you may want to get one if your home is located in or near a floodplain or after you completed a home renovation that changed the lowest elevation point of the home. If the Elevation Certificate demonstrates the elevation of the lowest floor is above the floodplain, you may still need flood insurance, but Elevation Certificate could significantly reduce your premium. It is recommended that homeowners obtain flood insurance, even when not required, because flooding can still happen in areas of low flood risk.
To obtain an Elevation Certificate, start by contacting your city’s floodplain manager or the person responsible for Elevation Certificates. Every community in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has a floodplain manager, though their title might vary, and they might have multiple roles. If you’re in unincorporated King County, contact the Water and Land Resources Division of the King County Natural Resources and Parks Department. Once in contact with the floodplain manager or the person responsible for Elevation Certificates, ask them if there’s already an Elevation Certificate on file for your property. If there isn’t an Elevation Certificate already on file, the floodplain manager can provide you direction about how to properly obtain and file an Elevation Certificate.