They say a picture is worth a thousand words…but sometimes, there are just no words.
September 26, 2024: Hurricane Helene may become one of the deadliest hurricanes to strike Perry, Florida, southwest of Tallahassee in the Big Bend region, leaving over 600 miles of destruction in its wake. More than 200 people are confirmed dead, with many others injured or missing. Flooding has swept away towns, businesses, and homes, causing extensive damage and destruction to infrastructure. Closed roads and bridges have complicated search and rescue efforts, and some areas remain without electricity, water, essential services, or supplies.
The Biden-Harris Administration is actively engaged in responding to Hurricane Helene’s impact across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Officials receive regular briefings and are in close contact with state and local authorities to ensure necessary support is provided. Major Disaster Declarations have been approved, unlocking federal aid for the affected states. Over 3,500 federal personnel, including FEMA and Department of Defense teams, are deployed for rescue operations, supported by resources like high-water vehicles, helicopters, and urban search and rescue teams.
CoreLogic estimates Helene’s insured and uninsured flood and wind losses to total between $30.5 billion and $47.5 billion.
AccuWeather has revised its estimate of the total damage and economic loss from Hurricane Helene in the U.S. to between $225 billion and $250 billion.
FEMA has delivered essential supplies, including meals, water, and tarps, to distribution points. In some areas inaccessible by vehicles, pack mules are being used to deliver food, water, and supplies to isolated communities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has deployed generators to address power outages, and multiple agencies are providing additional support. The Department of Health and Human Services has declared public health emergencies, the Coast Guard is conducting rescues, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) is assisting businesses. The U.S. Geological Survey and Environmental Protection Service are addressing environmental and infrastructure concerns, while the USDA is providing disaster aid to farmers.
Various agencies are offering support: the Department of Health and Human Services has declared public health emergencies, the Coast Guard is conducting rescues, and the SBA is assisting businesses. The US Geological and Environmental Protection Service is handling environmental concerns, while the USDA aids farmers.
In Western North Carolina, 14 inches of rain in three days caused landslides and flooding. The Federal Program focuses only on flood risks from rising seas and rivers, not the extreme rainfall Helene brought.
In Western North Carolina, the storm dumped 14 inches of rain over three days, turning mountainsides into mudslides and creeks into dangerous currents. Federal programs are focused on flood risks from rising seas and rivers rather than the extreme rainfall that Helene produced.
Those without flood coverage may apply for up to $30,000 in federal disaster aid, as well as loans from the SBA. Links to FEMA and USA.gov provide additional information.
Some communities are already facing the costs of rebuilding.
Florida Hit Again by Hurricane Milton
Tampa, Florida, October 8: Hurricane Milton approached Florida’s Gulf Coast as a massive Category 5 storm, triggering heavy traffic and fuel shortages as over a million people were ordered to evacuate the Tampa Bay area. The densely populated west coast, already reeling from Hurricane Helene less than two weeks prior, now faces another devastating threat. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor urged residents in evacuation zones to leave, warning, “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die.”
More than a dozen coastal counties, including Hillsborough County in Tampa, issued mandatory evacuation orders. Pinellas County, which includes St. Petersburg, ordered the evacuation of over 500,000 residents, and Lee County mandated evacuations for 416,000 people. Mobile homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities were also ordered to evacuate.
On October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm. The storm moved across the densely populated Tampa Bay area, spending 12 hours over central Florida before exiting over the Atlantic Ocean. Tornadoes spawned by Milton led to at least 24 fatalities. Floodwaters inundated homes and streets, bringing debris and mud, while storm surges reached 5 to 10 feet. With widespread power outages, limited access to essential services, and a shortage of meals and supplies, search and rescue teams have conducted over 4,200 rescues. More than 3.4 million customers lost power, and over 50,000 workers have been deployed to restore services. Many businesses and vehicles remain submerged or damaged.
CoreLogic estimates total damage from Milton, including uninsured property losses, between $21 billion and $34 billion.
AccuWeather’s estimate for total damage and economic loss in the U.S. from Hurricane Milton is between $160 billion and $180 billion.
FEMA assistance is available to eligible individuals and families affected by the disaster. To apply for aid, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to repair homes and businesses and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help small businesses.
October 7, 2024: In preparation for Hurricane Milton’s aftermath, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine activated a team of over three dozen Ohio National Guard members to support Florida.
Flood Insurance Awareness
Only about 4% of Americans have flood insurance, according to FEMA, primarily through the National Flood Insurance Program. Many people are unaware that regular home insurance usually doesn’t cover flood damage or that they live in flood-prone areas where this additional coverage could protect them.
Offering Flood Insurance to Clients and Customers: Follow your agency’s E&O best practices by quoting flood insurance for all personal and commercial lines, new business, and renewals. Clients appreciate understanding how this coverage protects their families, belongings, or businesses. Utilize agency checklists and document your agency management system on coverage offered or rejected.
OIA Carrier Partners offer flood insurance options and provide marketing materials and informational flyers. Additionally, OIA offers CE webinars on flood education.
Disaster Planning Resources
Business: Provide your business clients with free disaster planning guides and business continuity resources, including links to toolkits for severe wind, tornado, hurricane, flooding, power outage, and earthquake readiness.
Personal: Offer disaster planning resources for personal home preparedness, including creating a safety plan, assessing area risks, and preparing essential supplies. Encourage having a “Go Bag” with important documents, medications, and necessities for potential evacuation, along with a post-disaster plan.
Insurance Agencies: The BIG I Agents Council for Technology offers a Business Disaster Plan Template and Disaster Risk Assessment tool to help agencies assess risks and prepare effectively.
Cited Resources
- Hurricane Helene Expected to Be One of the Costliest
- CBS News, September 30, 2024
- https://www.cbsnews.com
- FACT SHEET: Update – Biden-Harris Administration’s Continued Response to Hurricane Helene
- Video Shows Mules Bringing Resources to Helene Victims in Areas Unreachable by Vehicles
- Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, October 2, 2024
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/10/02/mules-north-carolina-helene-video/75490118007/
- FEMA Hurricane Helene
- Hurricane Helene | USAGov
- CoreLogic Increases Total Insured Loss Estimate from Hurricane Helene to $10.5B-$17.5B
- Claims Journal, October 4, 2024
- https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2024/10/04/326667.htm
- AccuWeather Increases Total Damage and Economic Loss Estimate from Helene to Between $225B-$250B
- Claims Journal, October 3, 2024
- https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2024/10/03/326633.htm
- Helene Dumps Rain on Millions of US Homes That Lack Flood Insurance
- Leslie Kaufman and Brian K. Sullivan, September 30, 2024
- https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2024/09/30/794787.htm
- Protect the Life You’ve Built (Floodsmart.gov)
- Hurricane Helene Exposes FEMA Assistance Gap in Appalachian Areas
- Andy Sullivan, Grant Smith, and Simon Jessop, October 4, 2024
- https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hurricane-helene-exposes-federal-assistance-gap-appalachian-areas-2024-10-03/
- Inside Look at Helene Devastation
- NBC NEWS, October 1, 2024
- https://www.today.com/video/devastation-mounts-in-aftermath-of-hurricane-helene-220534341857
- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine – Ohioans Urged to Research Charitable Organizations When Making Donations
- Make A Plan | Ready.gov
- Residential Plan
- https://www.ready.gov/plan
- Ready Business | Ready.gov
- Toolkits | Ready.gov – Business Make a Plan
- Ready Business How-To Guide
- Toolkits for Severe Wind, Tornado, Hurricane, Inland Flooding, Power Outage, Earthquakes
- https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/ready_business_how-to-guide.pdf
- IIABA Agent Council for Technology – Disaster Plan Guide & Disaster Risk Assessment
About the Author:
Jeannine Giesler, CISR, CPIA, and past President of the OIA Board of Directors, Foundation for the Advancement of Insurance Professionals, currently serves as Resource Center Advisor for the OIA. The purpose of the Resource Center is to contribute to building a comprehensive library of resource materials for our members. We pride ourselves on being the one-stop shop for all OIA members and work to solve every problem or situation you may come across.
