North Bend residents who have property damaged by the April 25 explosion on North Bend Way are being encouraged to contact their insurance companies about damages, and advised to use the liability claim number provided by Travelers Insurance, which is E0C2415.

Travelers Insurance, the company covering the buildings damaged by the blast, is currently investigating the incident, and will not accept any claims until they conclude their own review of the incident. The provided liability claim number will allow other insurance companies to get the information they need to response to claims.

The city of North Bend is already cleaning up some of the damage from the incident, which officials believe had accidental causes, said City Administrator Londi Lindell. City staff will not enter private property to clean up debris, however. Private property owners are responsible for their own clean-up, but can add those costs to their insurance claims.

Citizens are advised to wear protective gear if they are cleaning things up themselves. No hazardous materials are believed to be part of the debris, but Lindell said if anyone has concerns about it, they should hire a professional company to do the cleanup, adding those costs to their insurance claims.

Anyone with damage to a building can also ask for the North Bend building official to examine it. Call the Community & Economic Development Department at (425) 888-5633 or (425) 888-7643 to request an appointment.

Officials expect the process of restoration and rebuilding to be lengthy. Lindell said the city is seeking a disaster declaration from the state’s Small Business Administration, which could make city businesses eligible for very competitive loan rates for rebuilding or relocation.