SEATTLE -- Now that the worst of the rain and windstorm appears to be over, many are facing the hard and expensive job of clean-up.

For both renters and homeowners, that may include a call to their insurance companies.

It takes about 30 days for a new policy to take effect.

Unfortunately, many people don't think about insurance until they need it, and by then it can be too late. That especially applies to flood damaged homes, condos and apartments.

Some residents had to use rowboats to escape one hard-hit Seattle neighborhood near Northgate, where flood water was as deep as ten feet in some places at the height of Monday's storm.

Dane Olson rents here, but he doesn't know if he'll ever be able to come back.

"They shut of the gas off so our heaters don't work. We have a gas fireplace and an electrical heater, so there won't be any heat in the unit. So we'll be staying with my mom at least tonight to see what's happened to the building," Olson said.

Olson is lucky he has a place to stay. If he didn't, he'd be reimbursed for hotel expenses only if he had federal flood insurance.

According to the state Insurance Commissioner's office, only 34,000 people in Washington state do.

Karl Newman of the Northwest Insurance Council says if wind damage forces renters to find another place to live -- say, the roof blows off or a tree damages the building -- they can get financial help if they have renter's insurance.

But if it's flooding alone, they're out of luck.

That's because all insurance companies draw a bright line between flood damage and wind damage for both renters and homeowners.

"Wind damage is a covered loss under a typical homeowner's policy. Flood damage is not," Newman said. "If you have damage from the flood and from the windstorm, your insurance adjuster will say, 'the wind damage, that's covered. The flood damage is not covered.'" --unless you have flood insurance.

But that's a separate policy sold under the National Flood Insurance Program, administered by the federal government.

Again, that applies to both homeowners and those who rent.

And what if your personal vehicle is damaged by flooding?

"I did lose my car, our cars are all totally under water."

According to Newman, flood damage to cars is only covered if you have optional comprehensive coverage on your auto policy.

If your loss is covered by insurance, there's a very good chance you'll get your claim approved.

During last year's rain and windstorm, out of 42,000 claims, only 32 drew complaints by policy holders.

If your loss is not covered by insurance, you may still be eligible for federal aid.

To start that process, you have to first document the damage with your city or county Department of Emergency Management, or DEM.

You can get in touch with your local DEM by going to the state Military Department Web site.