With the Atlantic hurricane season officially underway, officials are encouraging North Carolinians to reassess their risk and consider flood insurance.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), just one inch of water can cause $25,000 in damage and there have been floods in 98% of counties in America.
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“Increasingly, a flood is something that's likely to happen to you over a 30-year mortgage,” said Jeff Jackson in 2023, who used to lead flood insurance operations for the National Flood Insurance Program, a program managed by FEMA with a network of more than 50 insurance companies.
In 2023, Jackson said the floodplain is changing and many homeowners may not know they are at risk.
“In our program, 40% of all the claims come from outside the high-risk area,” Jackson said. “With climate change, that's becoming more and more the case and we're seeing more intense storms happening in places that typically it's been very uncommon,”
Most homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, potentially leaving residents underwater with unexpected bills.
Most flood insurance has a 30-day waiting period to go into effect.
“So, this is a really great week to sign up for it because you would be covered as the peak of hurricane season is getting started,” Jackson said.
While WRAL is projecting a below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, all it takes is one storm to cause devastation.
The clock is ticking for hurricane preparation, with storm season in full-force through Nov. 30.
