BOONE, N.C. (Queen City News) — The Boone couple’s home was one of thousands destroyed in a landslide caused by Hurricane Helen. Just days after the storm hit, their insurance company canceled their homeowner’s insurance, even though the couple didn’t have landslide coverage and their insurance company wasn’t even selling them insurance.
The couple is now hoping to raise money through donations to support the bill and the cleanup.
“That was the kitchen window, and that was the bathroom, and that was the back bedroom,” Scott Richardson said.
He and his wife, Meta Gatchenberger, took a few seconds to capture what their home of 25 years looked like now. They say their home was ripped from its foundation eight days ago in a landslide caused by Hurricane Helen.
It is considered dangerous to be around.
“I’m glad I wasn’t home,” Richardson said.
They had basic homeowners insurance that included fire and theft coverage, but no landslide or flood insurance. Across the seven affected states, less than 1 percent of homes in inland counties affected by the storm had flood insurance, according to the National Flood Insurance Program.
“If you’re just going to give everyone an extra $5, throw it in there. Depending on who you are, 1 in 10,000 people might use it. That should cover it,” Richardson said.
He believes it should be included in everyone’s policies.
In North Carolina and many other states, flood insurance is not required unless your bank requires it. But North Carolina Department of Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey says you need flood insurance if it rains where you live.
“What we learned from Hurricane Florence is that in 2018, nearly 200,000 homeowners lost their homes and had zero insurance,” Causey said.
FEMA’s website states, “Flooding can occur anywhere. Just one inch of water can cause up to $25,000 in damage.”
The couple said the house was valued at $416,000 and they had less than $70,000 in cash.
“Because of that, our savings are gone. We have to buy an apartment now. We have a tiny little apartment and we have to pay for this as well. “And we’re retired. We’re on Social Security, fixed income,” Richardson said.
The couple set up a GoFundMe to raise money for housing costs and cleanup. We are about $65,000 away from our goal.
Commissioner Causey is researching how comprehensive policies that include flood protection can help homeowners in the long term.
“The option that the agency presents to the consumer is going to be to say, you know, without this comprehensive plan, none of these things are covered. And people are going to say, ‘Am I willing to take the risk? ,” he said.
For Meta, it’s still shocking.
“I can’t believe it. It feels like someone else’s home,” she said.
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