Most of western NC didn’t have flood insurance to pay for Helene damage. What’s next?

As volunteers continue to support western North Carolinians with food, water and other essential supplies, residents hit by Hurricane Helene are facing a difficult truth: When it comes to rebuilding their homes, they may be left to fend for themselves.

Fire, theft, falling objects and even explosions are covered in most home insurance plans. However, separate coverage is needed for flooding and mudslides, and most people in western North Carolina don’t have it.

Stephanie Hargraves’ new reality is her nearly-destroyed Fairview home, northwest of Lake Lure.

“It’s like a nightmare, and every morning we wake up like, ‘Nope this is real,'” Hargraves said. “We really don’t know what we are going to do.”

Only 0.7% of Buncombe County residents had flood insurance when Helene flooded their properties. Hargraves was not one of them, so she, along with many others, have turned to GoFundMe, relying on the kindness of strangers.

Hargrave said she breaks down several times a day but that she is trying to keep things in perspective.

“We are alive, and I know a lot of people that have friends that are still missing, or they found their bodies, it’s horrible,” she said.

Even as donations flood in, the need remains immense, with property damage estimates in the double-digit billions in many western communities. 

“This is just something that’s never happened here before, nobody was prepared for it,” Hargraves said.

High costs, policy confusion and the assumption that a house is at low risk of flooding lead many homeowners to skip flood insurance. Even those with flood coverage should note the coverage won’t typically cover landslides, which differ from mudslides (involving moving water).

Cars flooded by Hurricane Helene are likely covered if a driver carries comprehensive auto insurance.

Help is still available through FEMA disaster assistance, something Hargraves and anyone else affected by Helene should take advantage of.

Hagraves said she will apply, adding, “We don’t have a choice.”

Apply for FEMA assistance

There are several ways to apply:

• Go to DisasterAssistance.gov
• Use the FEMA App
• Call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST daily. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

Here’s a list of what you’ll need to apply:

• A current phone number where you can be contacted
• Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
• Your Social Security number
• A general list of damage and losses
• Banking information if you choose direct deposit
• If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

Do you need flood insurance?

Homeowners wondering if they need flood insurance can use this tool linked on the North Carolina Department of Insurance website to type in a specific home address and understand their flood risk. Even 12 inches of water can cause $29,000 in damage, so flood insurance may not be a bad investment.

WRAL News has a guide to how to help our western North Carolina neighbors.