SEATTLE -- People in the Green River Valley are having a hard time purchasing flood insurance.

The Seattle Times reported that many insurance companies have stopped writing business policies because the risk is too great.

Federal flood insurance is still available, but it has limits. Its limits are $500,000 a structure and $500,000 for contents, not enough for many industrial businesses in the area.

On Monday, Senator Patty Murray and other lawmakers visited Kent to urge families to take proper precautions against massive flooding.

They showed off the giant sandbags that'll be used to reinforce levies to deal with the floods and they assured residents of the long term goal of shoring up the Howard Hanson Dam.

"All of us hope preparation isn't going to be necessary, but as this dam has protected us for a long time," Murray said. "We know now that there is a possibility of flooding. We want everybody -- residents and businesses -- to be prepared."

The city of Kent hopes to start putting the new sandbags on top of the levies by the end of the week.