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Tag Archives: Hurricane

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner offers important preparation advice as hurricane season begins

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner offers important preparation advice as hurricane season begins

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Hurricane season is officially underway and NOAA is predicting a stormy ride for 2025. The Atlantic forecast includes 19 named storms, nine hurricanes and four that could reach major strength before the season ends November 30.

“North Carolina has seen the devastation hurricanes can cause firsthand,” said North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. “Last year, Hurricane Helene tore through our state, leaving behind massive damage and many people in western North Carolina are still recovering.”

According to Causey, early preparation is critical to protect lives and property before a storm makes landfall.

Hurricane Helene hit hard last fall—bringing deadly floods and destruction to western North Carolina. With 107 lives lost and billions in damage, Commissioner Causey is now looking ahead, offering practical advice in a new video to help residents brace for whatever the 2025 hurricane season may bring.

There are multiple things Causey suggests you do to prepare for this upcoming hurricane season:

“Have an emergency kit,” said Causey, “You can go to our website (ncdoi.gov) we’ve got some tips. Most of these agencies like Red Cross, American’s First, a lot of those websites have tips on hurricane preparedness.”

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey offers essential tips and information to prepare North Carolinians for the start of the 2025 hurricane season on June 1. (Video by N.C. Department of Insurance

Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. Know exactly what your insurance policy covers. Homeowners’ policies do not cover flooding. Be aware there is a 30-day waiting period before flood policies take effect. If you rent, your landlord’s insurance only covers the building, not your belongings. You’ll need renters’ insurance to protect your personal items.

“You have to have a separate flood insurance policy either through the federal flood insurance program which is under FEMA or through a private flood insurance policy,” said Causey. “It was almost a similar thing with Hurricane Helene.”

Compile important documents. Gather important paperwork, including insurance policies, medical records and prescriptions. Be prepared to bring copies with you if you are forced to evacuate your home. Know how to get in touch with your insurance agent and company.

“Be sure to have a home inventory,” said Causey. “If you haven’t done this you need to go through your house, room to room, and take pictures with your cell phone or take a video.”

Store your home inventory and related documents in a safe, easily accessible place online, on your smart phone, on your computer or in a fire-proof box or safe deposit box.

Identify potential hazards around your home. Hanging tree branches, loose shingles, patio furniture and other outdoor objects can cause damage or injuries in a storm. Make repairs or secure large objects to reduce the threat.

Check your emergency toolkit and to-go bag. Update items such as food, medicine and batteries. Make sure to include items for every member of your family, including pets.

Electricity may go out, so make sure you have extra drinking water. Also, fill the bathtub with water for bathing and flushing the toilet.

Despite all the preparation you may do before the storm, it will not prevent the storm from happening. Causey has multiple procedures for keeping you and your family safe during a hurricane:

If officials advise you to shelter in place during a storm, take it seriously—your safety could depend on it. Stay away from windows, glass doors and skylights, which can shatter in high winds and send debris flying. Instead, hunker down in a secure interior room on the lowest floor of your home—unless there’s a risk of flooding, in which case you’ll want to head for higher ground.

Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before severe weather hits. It may be your only way to stay informed or call for help. If there’s lightning in the area, avoid using landlines altogether. And if flooding becomes a threat, turn off the electricity at the main breaker to prevent electrical hazards.

Don’t go outside until officials give the all-clear. Storm conditions can shift quickly, and hazards like downed power lines or hidden floodwaters can linger long after the skies clear. If you’re ordered to evacuate, stay away from home until officials say it’s safe to return.

Unfortunately, scams often follow in the wake of a major storm. Commissioner Causey urges storm victims to steer clear of fraud by working only with licensed, insured contractors. The NCDOI’s Criminal Investigations Division has Special Agents on the case every day, tracking down insurance fraud across the state.

After a storm, one of your first steps should be to contact your homeowners’ insurance agent or company to report any losses. Even if you hold a separate windstorm or hail policy, your primary insurer will still handle the investigation and adjust your claim. Keep in mind, though—after a major storm, insurers are often swamped with claims, so patience will be key.

Start by documenting the damage. Make a thorough list and take clear photos before making any temporary repairs. Then, do what you can to prevent things from getting worse. For example, placing a tarp over a damaged roof can help keep water from seeping in. Save your receipts—reasonable expenses to protect your home are considered part of the loss and may be reimbursed by your insurer.

Hold off on permanent repairs until your insurance company has had a chance to inspect the damage and you’ve reached an agreement on costs. You should also check with them before throwing out any damaged materials or items—they may need to be documented.

If the damage leaves your home uninhabitable, talk with your insurance company about what temporary living expenses are covered. Knowing what to expect can make a tough situation more manageable.

For more information on how to be prepared before, during and after any storm, visit www.ncdoi.gov/disaster or contact the NCDOI Consumer Services Division at 1-855-408-1212.

Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins

Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins

WASHINGTON (AP) — As hurricane season begins, experts in storms and disasters are worried about massive cuts to the federal system that forecasts, tracks and responds to the storms. Experts are alarmed over the large-scale staff reductions, travel and training restrictions and grant cut-offs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and is predicted to busier than average this year. Representatives of both NOAA and FEMA say the agencies are prepared.… Continue Reading

North Carolina revenue predictions fall with recession risk

North Carolina revenue predictions fall with recession risk

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina officials have downgraded anticipated state revenue collections compared to their recent forecast. Wednesday’s adjustments agreed upon by economists working in Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s budget office and at the General Assembly are in large part the result of higher economic uncertainty and the risks of a recession. The changes from the February forecast keep front and center competing tax-cutting plans passed by the Republican-controlled House and Senate. The updated forecast still envisions lower year-over-year revenues because of expected income tax rate reductions. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein wants to stop those rate cuts.… Continue Reading

The scars from Hurricane Helene are healing slowly in this Appalachian tourist town

The scars from Hurricane Helene are healing slowly in this Appalachian tourist town

CHIMNEY ROCK VILLAGE, N.C. (AP) — Despite being nearly wiped off the map by the remnants of Hurricane Helene, tiny Chimney Rock Village in North Carolina had optimistically predicted it would be open for business by Memorial Day. But in the days leading up to the holiday, a security guard at the town’s entrance still turns away all but locals and construction workers. Mayor Peter O’Leary admits Main Street likely won’t reopen until summer sometime. He said nearly a third of businesses were destroyed by last September’s flooding. While some are likely gone forever, there are signs of progress. Amish volunteers from Pennsylvania are rebuilding wrecked shops and inns. The state is close to finishing a temporary bridge for Chimney Rock State Park to reopen. O’Leary says the long rebuild will be worth it.… Continue Reading

North Carolina House advances more Hurricane Helene aid in $465M package

North Carolina House advances more Hurricane Helene aid in $465M package

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House has advanced another Hurricane Helene funding package to address pressing needs in the mountains eight months after the storm. The chamber approved a $465 million spending plan unanimously on Thursday. It’s about half what Democratic Gov. Josh Stein requested from the Republican-controlled General Assembly earlier this week. Republican lawmakers had been working on their package before Stein’s pitch. The General Assembly already has provided $1.6 billion in Helene recovery funding. But the needs are many times greater, and federal funds have been slow in reaching western North Carolina. The bill now heading to the Senate includes a business grant program.… Continue Reading

North Carolina governor urges state lawmakers to include more Helene aid in upcoming budget

North Carolina governor urges state lawmakers to include more Helene aid in upcoming budget

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein made another request of state lawmakers to commit hundreds of millions more dollars to western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene last year. Stein’s proposal announced Monday totals $891 million. The governor says the money will go to addressing critical needs such as revitalizing local economies, repairing town infrastructure and providing housing assistance. The state legislature has already appropriated or made available more than $1 billion for Helene recovery since the storm ravaged the western part of the state in September. Stein also emphasized the need for state funds instead of waiting for “uncertain federal assistance.”… Continue Reading

NPR stations targeted for cuts by Trump have provided lifelines to listeners during disasters

NPR stations targeted for cuts by Trump have provided lifelines to listeners during disasters

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — After Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, North Carolina, the sound coming from open car windows as residents gathered on a street at the top of a ridge trying to get cell service last fall was Blue Ridge Public Radio. And as they stood in line for water or food, the latest news they had heard on the station was a frequent topic of conversation. Now, public radio stations are being targeted for cuts by President Donald Trump, who this week signed an executive order aimed at slashing public subsidies to NPR and PBS, alleging “bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting.… Continue Reading

Loss of FEMA program spells disaster for hundreds of communities and their projects

Loss of FEMA program spells disaster for hundreds of communities and their projects

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For hundreds of communities nationwide, plans to protect against natural disasters and climate change have been upended because of the Trump administration’s elimination of a federal grant program. Scrapped projects include relocating flood-damaged homes in Pennsylvania, protecting businesses from stormwater in North Carolina, and safeguarding water supply lines in Oklahoma’s Tornado Alley. The grants have been panned by the Republican White House as wasteful political spending. But those grants were seen by local officials and residents as a vital use of government resources to protect lives, infrastructure and economies with smart investments upfront.… Continue Reading

What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death

What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death

ATLANTA (AP) — Experts say planning before a tornado threatens is key for staying safe. Weather radios, basements and bicycle helmets can all help save lives. Rick Smith of the National Weather Service says a weather radio is something that every home and business should have. There are also other ways of getting warnings, such as a cellphone app. Experts say having multiple, redundant warning methods is important. Smith advises people to seek shelter underground if possible. And recent research shows that closing your exterior and interior doors can be a good strategy to alleviate the high winds somewhat. That’s the opposite of the commonly held misconception that you’re supposed to open things up equalize the air pressure.… Continue Reading

First rain and then fire chase people from their homes in North and South Carolina

First rain and then fire chase people from their homes in North and South Carolina

At least a half-dozen large wildfires continue to burn in the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina and North Carolina. Nicole Taylor had to leave her home with the porch that overlooks Table Rock Mountain in South Carolina. She took video of the smoke pouring off the ridge until an evacuation order came Tuesday. She says she doesn’t know when she can go home. So far no one has been hurt in the fires that have burned more than 20 square miles of mostly rugged remote forests. The firefighting is slow. Water sources are scarce, so crews depend on building fire breaks.… Continue Reading

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