Organization: Legal Aid of North Carolina
Organization: Legal Aid of North Carolina
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Flood insurance can help pay for damage to your home and belongings when regular homeowners insurance does not.
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Coverage
Exclusions
Q&A
Does homeowners insurance cover losses from a flood?
Homeowners insurance usually covers damage from fire, theft, vandalism, hail, lightning, and storms. These policies generally exclude catastrophes like flooding and earthquakes. These disasters require specialized policies. Moreover, in some places, damage from wind is not covered. To be certain, read your homeowners policy carefully.
What does flood insurance cover?
Generally, it covers damage to your house or buildings, including the duct work and foundations underneath. That can include electrical and plumbing systems; furnaces and water heaters; appliances; carpeting; cabinets; refrigerators; cooking stoves; built-in dishwashers; detached garages; and other items.
What do you mean by “flooding”?
NFIP insurance covers an excess of water on land that is normally dry, affecting two or more acres of land or two or more properties. This includes overflow from bodies of water, flooding from surface water, mudflows, and collapses along bodies of water due to erosion.
Is there anything flood insurance won’t cover?
NFIP insurance does not cover vehicles; any property outside of a building, such as wells, septic systems, patios, swimming pools, or trees; damage caused by moisture, mildew, or mold that could have been avoided by making immediate repairs; or relocation costs while you are out of your home.
I don’t live in a floodplain. Should I get flood insurance?
Decisions should be made after careful consideration. You can review FEMA flood maps available online. Or, you can call FEMA to find out if you are in a flood zone.
Even if you live outside a flood-prone area, it may be a good idea to have flood insurance. More than a quarter of NFIP claims are filed by people whose property sits outside of high-risk areas. These claims also account for one-third of flooding disaster assistance.
Organization: Legal Aid of North Carolina
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If you are elderly or disabled and own your home, you may qualify for a reduction of your property taxes.
To be eligible, you must be either 65 or older, or totally and permanently disabled. You also must own and live in your home, unless you are living elsewhere for medical reasons.
This reduction does not happen automatically. You will need to submit an application to your local tax office. Applications are accepted from January 1 to June 1 of each year. You can find the Application for Property Tax Relief online, or ask for a copy in your county tax office.
There are three possible exemptions you may receive:
Elderly or Disabled Exemption
- You must be either 65 or older, or totally and permanently disabled.
- Your income must be under a certain limit. For 2024, the limit is $36,700 annually.
- You will need to turn in information about your income. If you are disabled but not elderly, your doctor will also have to fill out a form.
- If you qualify for the exemption, the county will tax your property as if it were worth less than it really is. For tax calculation purposes, the county will either exclude the first $25,000 in value or will reduce the value by 50%, whichever lowers your bill more.
Disabled Veteran Exemption
- You must be a veteran with a totally and permanently service-connected disability, and who left the military under honorable conditions.
- Widows and widowers of disabled veterans also qualify, if you have not remarried.
- There are no income limits for this exemption.
- Your home will be taxed as if it were worth $45,000 less than it really is.
“Circuit Breaker” Tax Deferment
- This is an alternative to the Elderly and Disabled Exemption. You must be either 65 or older, or totally or permanently disabled.
- Under this exemption, your taxes can be calculated as a percentage of your income, rather than based on the value of the property.
- For 2024, if your income is below $36,700, your taxes will be limited to 4% of your income.
- If your income is between $36,700 and $55,050, your taxes will be limited to 5% of your income.
- Taxes above the limit will be a lien on the property that is forgiven after 3 years.
Organization: Legal Aid of North Carolina
Organization: Legal Aid of North Carolina
← Back to Disaster Relief
f it’s not safe for you, it’s not safe for animals. Plan now so you can evacuate with food, medicine, identification, transportation, and a safe destination.
Check shelter rules before a storm
Some public shelters do not house household pets in the same space as people. North Carolina counties arrange animal sheltering locally. Click here to find your local shelter.
Make a plan
Choose safe destinations, name a backup caregiver, and keep records together.
Pack a to-go kit
Use the checklist below to collect food, water, medicine identification and transport supplies.
Know shelter options
Understand the difference between household pets, service animals, and emotional support animals.
Before an Emergency
Make a plan that works without you.
A trusted person should be able to find your animals, records, carriers, medicines, and safe destination if you are away from home.
- Choose Two Safe Destinations
Identify one pet-friendly place near home and another outside your area. Confirm species, size, vaccination, carrier, and fee requirements before a disaster.
Do not rely on one hotel or shelter. Capacity and pet policies can change during an emergency.
- Create a Buddy System
Give a trusted neighbor, friend, or relative access to your home, written care instructions, and permission to pick up or care for your animals.
- Update Identification and Records
Use a current collar tag and microchip. Keep recent photos, vaccination records, medication instructions, ownership information, and veterinarian contacts together.
- Practice the Exit
Keep carriers and leashes near an exit, teach animals to enter carrier and test the route. Make a separate plan for birds reptiles livestock and other species.
Checklists
When packing your pet emergency kit, we recommend packing two kits: one to go and one to stay.
Keep a lightweight evacuation kit near an exit and a larger supply kit for sheltering at home. Start with survival basics, then add supplies for each species.
All About Shelters
When a disaster arises, shelters for animals are REQUIRED: The PETS Act of 2006 is now part of the Stafford Act, meaning pet-friendly shelters must open whenever an evacuation is in place. These shelters are most frequently organized by local animal control offices or county, or state, animal response teams. When creating your emergency plan, remember to verify that your preferred pet shelter is staffed by qualified animal care personnel with animal handling experience.
- Be sure to have proof of rabies vaccination .
- Make time to treat for fleas while at the shelter.
- Try to keep your animal calm with familiar blankets, toys, and treats.
- If you think your pet might be sick, talk to a veterinarian.
- Treat dogs and cats for intestinal parasites while at the shelter – this is especially important for pets under 6 months old.
- Your animals may be taken to a mobile shelter; not all congregate shelters allow animals inside.
Q&A
Will every emergency shelter accept my pet?
No. Local governments must plan for household pets and service animals, but the sheltering setup varies. Some public shelters may not allow household pets inside the same space as people. Confirm the county plan and at least two backup destinations.
What should I do for birds, reptiles, or small mammals?
Use species-appropriate containers and plan for temperature, ventilation, food, water, and handling needs. Ask your veterinarian what equipment is safe. Confirm that each destination can accept the species, because some animal shelters have limits.
Can I bring an emotional support animal into a public shelter?
Not automatically. Emotional support animals do not have the same public-access rights as trained service animals under the ADA. Ask local emergency management about pet sheltering and any disability accommodation process.