I had the opportunity, along with insurance commissioners from two other southeastern states, to advocate for victims of Hurricane Helene at a roundtable discussion hosted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
I told the roundtable panel that we need a strong and consistent communication with the citizens of western North Carolina regarding federal and state resources available to them as they look to rebuild their communities.
I applaud the efforts of the North Carolina General Assembly. However, there will be an ongoing need for sustained support in the short and long-term future if the mountains are to recover fully. Many folks are unsure of what will be provided by federal resources, such as what personal and business low-interest rate loans may be available.
In addition, I will continue to push for future federal incentives to encourage higher building standards that could mitigate damage from future storms, and state programs which include resiliency and the fortified roof program. I also support pursuing state and federal incentives to encourage more individuals to maintain flood insurance coverage.
Our citizens in Western North Carolina continue to face overwhelming obstacles with the loss of their homes and businesses or extreme damage to their properties. We are dealing with devastation on an unprecedented scale, and we must continue to seek aid from many different sources that are available. But what is encouraging is the outpouring of volunteers, first responders and Department of Insurance employees that are continuing to work tirelessly on a level that I have never seen before.
Since the storm hit western North Carolina on Sept. 27, I have directed the Department of Insurance to host victim assistance centers and insurance camps with the insurance industry, FEMA and other federal, state and local agencies, to help those affected get direct access to resources regarding their claims and damage assessment.
We thank FEMA for extending the public assistance request period until Jan. 7, 2025. We also plan to host victim assistance centers in Ashe, McDowell, Caldwell, and Jackson counties in the coming days.
For more information on these events and other resources, please visit www.ncdoi.gov/helene or call the Department of Insurance Consumer Services Division at (855)408-1212.