Insurance company cancels policy after landslide claims couple’s home

BOONE, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — A Boone, North Carolina, couple’s home is one of thousands destroyed by a landslide caused by Hurricane Helene .

Just days after the storm hit, their insurance company canceled their homeowner’s policy — despite the couple not having landslide coverage or the company even selling it.

Now, the couple is hoping to raise money through donations to help with bills and cleanup.

“That was the kitchen window right there. And that was the bathroom. And in the back bedroom,” said Scott Richardson.

He and his wife, Meta Gatschenberger, took a few seconds to take in what their home of 25 years looked like now. They say eight days ago, their home was ripped from its foundation during a mudslide from Hurricane Helene.

It’s been deemed unsafe to be around.

“Good thing we weren’t home,” Richardson said.

They had the basic homeowner’s insurance including fire and theft, but no landslide or flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program says across seven affected states, less than 1% of homes in inland counties affected by the storm had flood insurance.

“If it’s only an extra five bucks for everybody, throw it in there. For some, the rare one out of 10,000 may use it. It would cover it,” Richardson said.

He believes it should be included in everyone’s policy.

In North Carolina, and many other states, flood insurance is not required unless the bank requires it. But North Carolina Department of Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey says if it rains where you live, you need flood insurance.

“What we learned from Hurricane Florence is that in 2018, we had close to 200,000 homeowners that lost their home and got zero insurance,” Causey said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website says “Floods can happen anywhere- just one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage.”

The couple says their home was worth $416,000 and they had less than $70,000.

“It’s drained our savings. We have to have an apartment now; we have a tiny little apartment. And we’re paying on this too, and we’re retired. We’re on social security, a fixed income,” Richardson said.

The couple created a GoFundMe to raise money for home expenses and cleanup. They’re about $65,000 from their goal.

Causey is studying how a comprehensive policy including flooding would help homeowners in the long run.

“That would be the choice the agent would present to the consumer and say ‘you realize none of these things are covered if you don’t have this comprehensive plan.’ And people could say, ‘Well, I’m willing to take the risk or I’m not,'” he said.

For Gatschenberger, it’s still shocking.

“It’s unbelievable … like it’s someone else’s house,” she said.

MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM

Helene Aftermath

Watauga Co. election workers prepare for early voting in midst of Helene recovery

Governor Cooper, FEMA meet with military leaders in Western N.C.

2 more counties, Catawba Indian Nation now eligible for FEMA Assistance in South Carolina

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.