The Pierce County Damage Assessment Center is collecting damage information directly from homeowners and business owners affected by the flooding. Residents and business owners in the City of Tacoma and Pierce County who suffered damage should call the Department of Emergency Management Damage call center at 1-866-798-6363 (toll free) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Callers should have the following information available:

— Name and address of affected property

— Type of insurance (homeowners)

— A description of damage, even if uninsured

— A personal estimate of uninsured losses

— Estimate of the fair market value of the damaged home or business.

At this time it is not necessary for property owners to have a contractor’s estimate.

The findings from this assessment will be used by the governor to request a disaster declaration and federal disaster assistance from the president. This process could take up to a couple of weeks or more. Federal disaster assistance, if and when it becomes available, only covers uninsured losses.