Durham and Orange counties face severe flooding: Tips to save money and protect homes

Tropical
Storm Chantal brought severe flash flooding across Durham and Orange counties,
and insurance companies have suggestions on immediate steps flood victims
should take to save money and mitigate future damage.

The floodwaters were powerful and
rapid, not giving neighbors adequate time to save all of their belongings.

Carina Yariv had been in her
bedroom Sunday night when she heard the car alarm go off, and realized a
portion of her car was under water.

“I went to go see what was going on
and that’s when I got out of bed and stepped in water up to my ankles,” she
said.

Her young daughters sat on kitchen
countertops as floodwaters carried their shoes and books through their kitchen.

A rescue boat eventually cruised
over the street to rescue the family from their front door.

“I don’t know how much of the
furniture we can save, or how much of the kitchen we have to redo,” Yariv said.

Yariv, like most other households
in the neighborhood, does not have flood insurance.

Insurance companies say people
should immediately take action to dry out their homes and save what’s possible,
regardless of whether they have flood insurance, as some companies won’t
always cover what could have been saved.

“Every insurance policy, they will
say, hey, take steps to protect your property,” said Landon Bentham, the CEO of
Callahan & Rice Insurance Group, Inc.

Bentham said those who have flood
insurance should also document damage by taking reference photos, and see if
personal property and the type of flooding that caused the damage is covered by
the policy.

“A lot of times if it’s a quick
flash flood, it may not always meet the definition of what flood insurance will
cover,” Bentham said.

For renters, how much a landlord or
property management will cover in catastrophes is stated in an individual lease.

Michael & Son restoration crews
have worked around the clock to try to mitigate future damage in water-soiled
homes by removing as much water as possible. 

Humidity is increasing the risk of
mold forming in homes, which won’t be protected in most flood insurance
policies. Rain chances for later in the week is also putting pressure on crews,
who are trying to dry out homes before they can flood again.

“It’s going to run the risk of
these crawl spaces flooding due to the fact that the ground is already so
saturated and it’s just going to put us at square one with the sheer amount of
rain,” said Joshua Escobar, the restoration manager for Michael & Son.

Bentham suggests those who do not
have flood insurance should avoid filing claims through home insurance, as it
could raise rates.

Cars that have flooded may be
covered in some comprehensive car insurance policies.

Those without flood insurance
should consider looking into aid with the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA).