Insurance Agents Expect Claims To Rise With Floodwaters
While some local insurance agencies on Monday received calls about damage from Hurricane Matthew, reports are expected to increase throughout the week due to property potentially being affected by the Tar River rising.
County officials said the Tar River is expected to reach 26-27 feet by today or Wednesday, coming less than 3 feet away from its cresting mark after Floyd.
After not receiving many calls on Monday at McGlohan and Co., Don McGlohan said he felt like his customers were pretty lucky.
“There are not nearly the number of claims I have had for Hurricane Irene (in 2011),” McGlohan, the company’s president, said. “But I have had more claims dealing with the rising water, property being flooded, cars stalling in the water. Again, the number of claims and the amount of damage, it’s not nearly as bad.”
After Hurricane Irene, McGlohan said calls did not stop all week. Much of the damage from the storm was from wind toppling over trees.
“The calls were constants, 24-7 with Hurricane Irene,” he said. “We had more claims than in the history of our business.”
Damage from rising waters from the Tar River could have a wide-ranging effect, he said.
“It can definitely get much worse later this week, and I could be telling you something totally different,” McGlohan said. “My understanding is we could have citywide power outages. Who knows what could happen when that comes?’’
McGlohan said most people do not get flood insurance unless it’s required, so he urged protecting as much property as possible.
“They need to make sure the cars aren't parked in areas that can be flooded,” he said. “Protect what you got as best you can.”
Lori Wallace, a licensed associate agent at Nationwide on Arlington Boulevard, said a few customers have been inquiring about their coverage, but she expects activity to pick up later in the week.
“We wont know until after the river crests.,” she said.
Chris Godley, a State Farm Insurance agent, believes the worst isto come, but his office did receive reports of storm-related damage. Godley said there were some claims of debris hitting vehicles and trees falling on vehicles.
As the river rises, Godley said the agency is anticipating that the number of claims will be higher.
There also was anticipation for more claims throughout the week at Modlin Insurance Agency on Fire Tower Road. Agent Renee Cole said the office received a few calls on Monday morning, including one about trees on a storage building.
“I haven’t had any claim calls, surprisingly,” she said. “... I don’t think there was a lot of property damage with wind and trees falling. The flood is going to be the major part of it. We will be probably getting some claims with it.”
Cole said some people still could be assessing their damage.
Stephanie Willet, an agent with AllState Insurance on Charles Boulevard, said her office was busy with calls throughout Monday morning. Damage included loss of shingles and roof damage, vehicles being flooded, and trees falling on homes and vehicles.
“I believe the one in 2011, they are running neck and neck as far as damages,” Willet said.
She said the agency anticipated a spike in calls with the river rising.
A lot of people on Monday were also trying to get flood coverage, Willet said. Willet said there normally is a 30-day wait before the coverage can be applied.
Contact Sharieka Breeden at 252-329-9567 and [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @ShariekaB.
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