The National Flood Insurance Program
The following is a summary of Hurricane Floyd's effect on housing, business, and agriculture/animals in eastern North Carolina. In addition, a detailed listing of Hurricane Floyd's financial impact plus a 10-year breakdown of Federal disaster assistance provided to the State are included. The following statistics highlight the influence of disasters in the State of North Carolina over a 10-year period.
- 4,117 uninsured and under-insured homes destroyed
- 2,534 temporary housing units provided to displaced families
- 1,888 housing units approved for buyout at a cost of $135.3 million
- 2,534 housing units at an estimated cost of $136.1 million under review for buyout
- North Carolina Permanent Housing Initiative started to offer affordable housing outside the 100-year floodplain
- $1.4 billion in insured losses-excluding flood loss
- $143 million in covered flood loss through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- $496 million approved in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans
- 60,000 businesses affected by Hurricane Floyd
- 31,000 estimated jobs lost as a result of Hurricane Floyd
- $1 billion lost in physical damage to businesses
- $4 billion lost in business revenue
- $13 million in livestock damage
- $543 million in crop damage
- $256 million in farm structure damage
- 2.9 million pets and livestock killed
- Establishment of the State Animal Response Team (SART) to manage animals during disasters; one of four States to develop such a plan
- $243 million in eligible claims under the Stafford Act's Public Assistance program
- $3.5 billion accounted for in Hurricane Floyd damage
- 14 federally declared disasters in North Carolina since 1989
- $1.6 billion made available in federal assistance since 1989
- $160 million, on average, in federal assistance provided to North Carolina yearly since 1989
North Carolina faces extreme hazards and consequences from hurricanes
and other natural disasters, but we move quickly with inventive
methods to restore our State's culture and diversity.
The combined rainfall of Hurricane Dennis (August 30 - September 4, 1999) and Hurricane
Floyd (September 15-16, 1999) pummeled the most economically
and ecologically vulnerable part of North Carolina. Hurricane Floyd
had an impact on residential housing in eastern North Carolina that
was unprecedented in the State's history. According to FEMA National
Processing Service Center figures, the storm destroyed 4,117 uninsured
and under-insured homes. Over 66,000 home inspections were performed
before 38,045 applicants were declared eligible for $88.3 million
in rental assistance. The Small Business Administration extended
$316.7 million in home loans to 8,851 applicants within the
66
counties that were declared disaster areas.
Eligible Disaster Housing applicants were provided with the option
to accept government-provided travel trailers or mobile homes on
a State group site, a public site, or on private property. The cost
of the program exceeded $48 million. Peak occupancy occurred during
January 2000, when 2,147 families were living in temporary housing.
At present, over one-third of the original 2,534 units have been
deactivated and the population is dropping steadily as more families
are relocating into permanent residences. The current population
at all sites is 1,272 families.
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Floyd has extended a unique
opportunity to city, county, and State planners to reclaim land
within the 100-year floodplain that had previously been utilized
for commercial and residential use. Mitigation teams are currently
working to reduce the potential risk of loss of life and damage
to property and structures by buying property in flood-prone areas
and removing it from development. At present, 1,888 units have been
approved by FEMA for purchase at a cost of $135.3 million. Another
2,534 units, at a cost of $136.1 million, are currently under State
and FEMA review.
North Carolina has embarked on a unique program to replace housing
destroyed by Hurricane Floyd with affordable housing outside the
floodplain. Members of the North Carolina Permanent Housing Initiative
are working with local authorities to utilize volunteer and Department
of Corrections labor to construct stick-built houses in secure areas.
In cooperation with Kinston City officials, State coordinators have
supervised the completion of nine replacement homes. A similar effort,
utilizing primarily Department of Correction labor, has begun in
Tarboro. A partnership with
Habitat For Humanity has been
proposed.
Source: Hurricane Floyd Recovery Governor's Update,
July 13, 2000
Both the coastal and non-coastal areas of eastern North Carolina
are subject to predictable consequences from hurricanes and other
natural hazards, including riverine flooding and tornadoes. Businesses
in the eastern-third of the State expect to deal with damage caused
by high winds and flooding (surge and rain) and losses generated
by evacuation of employees and customers. The storms of late summer
1999 presented higher degrees of consequence to business than those
routinely experienced in eastern North Carolina.
Surveys and analyses in eastern North Carolina indicate that roughly
60,000 businesses suffered some degree of loss through physical
damage, disrupted service, or expected loss of market share as a
result of Hurricane Floyd and its impacts. Even with the storm's
significant impact, most businesses reopened or have plans to reopen;
however, almost 10% of impacted businesses have been forced to reduce
their labor force. The total labor-force reduction from storm impact
is estimated to be 31,000 jobs. In addition to the necessary long-term
labor reduction, businesses also faced the problem of 30,000 employees
who were temporarily or permanently displaced from homes and communities
or were injured as a result of the storm.
Insurance with business and individuals is a significant factor
in the recovery efforts associated with Hurricane Floyd. Estimates
indicate that one in every six businesses in the affected region
had no insurance at all. The remainder of the businesses held some
type of insurance, including liability, property and casualty, or
fire, but these types of insurance typically do not cover flood
losses or loss of revenue. Less than half of the insured businesses
surveyed indicated that their policies covered their business losses.
In the final sum of impact on businesses in eastern North Carolina,
Hurricane Floyd generated losses near $1 billion in physical damage
and as much as $4 billion in lost revenue.
Note: The statistics used in this narrative are available in the Economic
Development Administration's "Economic Impact Assessment of Hurricane
Floyd for North Carolina."
Sources:
A Socioeconomic Impact Analysis for Coastal North Carolina:
Hurricane Floyd Summary of Business Impact Survey
Regional Development Services, East Carolina University
Hurricane Floyd caused unprecedented flooding in North Carolina and adversely affected crops and livestock. Much of the floodwater was tainted with raw sewage, pesticides, agricultural waste, petroleum products, and dead farm animals.
Livestock lost due to the flooding include 2,107,857 poultry, 1,180 cattle, 28,000 hogs, and 752,970 turkeys. To minimize public health threats, State and Federal officials incinerated the dead animals. The estimated livestock damage was over $13 million.
Crops were adversely affected by the floodwaters as well. Tobacco
in the fields was ruined by wind and flooding. Tobacco in curing
barns was lost due to electrical failure. Much of the harvested
and cured crop was flooded in warehouses. A total of 80,918 acres
of tobacco was destroyed. Approximately 1.1 million acres of soybeans
were lost. Cotton impacted totaled 781,564 acres. Corn acres affected
totaled 379,716 acres. Peanuts were impacted totaling 119,536 acres.
A total of 55,861 fruit and vegetable acres were ruined.
Hurricane Floyd destroyed a total of 2,504,161 areas of crops,
with damage estimates exceeding $543,275,000.
Other impacts to agriculture included nurseries and aquaculture.
Nurseries sustained damages totaling $16,000,000, while the aquaculture industry reported losses of $100,000.
Agricultural facilities and farm structures, many of which were
uninsured against flooding, were damaged. The total damage to farm
structures was estimated to be $256,341,000.
Crop and livestock losses may only impact farm sales for a single
year, since farmers will be able to raise new crops and livestock.
Replacing lost facilities is a longer and more costly process. Most
of the expected farm failures will result from the high cost of
rebuilding or repairing farm facilities.
Sources:
A Socioeconomic Impact Analysis for Coastal North Carolina: Hurricane Floyd
Summary of Business Impact Survey
Regional Development Services, East Carolina University
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Agricultural Statistics Division
State Animal Response Team (SART)
When Hurricane Floyd's floodwaters covered eastern North Carolina, evacuated people left behind family pets. These pets were often left on roofs, chained outside, or confined to unventilated, boarded up homes.
Volunteers in boats traveled from home to home breaking down doors and windows to rescue hungry, scared dogs and cats. Farmers struggled to rescue hogs, cattle, horses, and other livestock. A total of 450 small animals, mainly dogs, were rescued and kenneled at North Carolina State University, and more than 700 were kenneled through East Carolina University. However, about 2.9 million animals, including livestock, died during Hurricane Floyd.
Initial rescue efforts were uncoordinated, as volunteer groups set up camp in different areas. The volunteers quickly realized that there was a need for a coordinated effort to respond to endangered animals during natural disasters. As a result, and with the cooperation of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, the State Animal Response Team (SART) was established. Other organizations participating are the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' State Veterinarian's Office, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, North Carolina College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, and numerous State animal and consumer organizations.
This effort, started in January, continues as various government and private groups work to set up SART. SART has developed a Statewide plan and is assisting counties in preparing for disasters. The development of SART stands as a notable achievement necessitated by the devastating flood.
SART plans to have money, equipment, boats, and shelters set up before the next disaster. In addition, many counties are setting up their own response teams whose members will work in shelters and assist in search and rescue.
North Carolina is now one of four States with detailed plans for dealing with distressed animals in a disaster.
Source: The Herald-Sun, Durham
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