FEMA rep on Western NC disaster: "Worst I've seen" (10-07-2024--Hour1)

[00:00:04] [SPEAKER_00]: What's going on? Thank you so much for listening to this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon to 3 on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, my daily show prep with all the links, become a patron, go to thepetekalendershow.com. Make sure you hit the subscribe button, get every episode for free, right to your smartphone or tablet. And again, thank you so much for your support.

[00:00:29] [SPEAKER_00]: So first, I want to welcome to the program Nate Custer. He is the media relation or a media relations specialist. I don't know if there are more than one. We'll ask him. With the Office of External Affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also known as FEMA. Nate, welcome to the show. How are you?

[00:00:48] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm well, Pete. Thanks for having me on.

[00:00:50] [SPEAKER_00]: Certainly. So are you the only media relations specialist?

[00:00:54] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm working nine counties more in what I would call the southeast portion of the affected area and including Mecklenburg County. We've got three or four others who are spread out over such a wide area in trying to keep people informed of what's going on.

[00:01:12] [SPEAKER_00]: So I think and I try to kind of highlight to the best of my ability and knowledge what FEMA does and what it doesn't do.

[00:01:21] [SPEAKER_00]: So let me ask you that. Let's start there. What what is FEMA responsible for doing and what is it not responsible for doing?

[00:01:30] [SPEAKER_02]: FEMA handles basic assistance for people who live in these declared counties and have suffered damages from natural disasters such as Helene.

[00:01:42] [SPEAKER_02]: We have some basic programs to provide emergency housing, to provide funds for emergency home repairs and for loss of personal property.

[00:01:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Everything is considered on a case by case people basis.

[00:01:59] [SPEAKER_02]: But in order to get that help, people have to register with FEMA.

[00:02:02] [SPEAKER_02]: They've registered with their local emergency management or with the Red Cross.

[00:02:06] [SPEAKER_02]: So that doesn't get them into the FEMA system.

[00:02:09] [SPEAKER_02]: You can register by calling 800-621-3362.

[00:02:16] [SPEAKER_02]: You can go online to disasterassistance.gov.

[00:02:19] [SPEAKER_02]: That's disasterassistance.gov.

[00:02:23] [SPEAKER_02]: Or with your smartphone, you can download a FEMA app and you can sign up that way.

[00:02:29] [SPEAKER_00]: So what do what do people do if they do not have cell service or Internet connection or power?

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_00]: How do they how do they sign up for that stuff?

[00:02:41] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, we have people of two member teams that are fanning out in these counties.

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't believe they're into Mecklenburg County yet, but they go door to door, so to speak, or neighborhood to neighborhood, talking to people, asking people if they're aware they need to register with FEMA.

[00:03:00] [SPEAKER_02]: Assuming there's a Wi-Fi connection where they are, and there's still some issues with that, they can register people right on the spot using a tablet they have with them.

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_02]: It's just some basic information that has to be provided when you register with FEMA.

[00:03:19] [SPEAKER_02]: But you need to do that in order to be considered for help.

[00:03:23] [SPEAKER_02]: If you're having a problem with communicating or you don't have a phone, you don't have Internet connection, whatever,

[00:03:30] [SPEAKER_02]: if you can get by your local county offices and maybe seek help there.

[00:03:36] [SPEAKER_02]: If there's some libraries that are open, that's another possibility for going in and getting into the FEMA system.

[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_00]: So there's also apparently a scam that people are running on victims posing as, I guess, as you guys or something,

[00:03:56] [SPEAKER_00]: or using victims' names in order to, what, submit fake applications?

[00:04:03] [SPEAKER_02]: Unfortunately, Pete, these frauds and scams are something we have to deal with in virtually every disaster declaration.

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER_02]: People may come to your door.

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_02]: They might be wearing a FEMA shirt, but if they don't have a FEMA photo ID badge, they're not legitimate.

[00:04:20] [SPEAKER_02]: They may say, well, for $50, I'll help you register with FEMA.

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER_02]: We don't charge anything to register.

[00:04:27] [SPEAKER_02]: If you have any contact like that or you receive phone calls that you're not sure of,

[00:04:33] [SPEAKER_02]: report that to your local police or sheriff's office.

[00:04:36] [SPEAKER_02]: We want to stop that as effectively as we can.

[00:04:42] [SPEAKER_00]: How, I've described FEMA as sort of they come in and help write the checks.

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER_00]: They're not rescuing people.

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER_00]: Like, you guys aren't, like, rappelling out of helicopters, pulling people off of roofs.

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_00]: That's not what FEMA does.

[00:04:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Is that fair?

[00:04:57] [SPEAKER_02]: No, we help to coordinate some of that.

[00:05:00] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, we have these FEMA-qualified search and rescue teams that are mostly composed of firefighters,

[00:05:08] [SPEAKER_02]: and several teams have come in from around the country who are doing these search and rescue missions.

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_02]: I can tell you that it's an ongoing situation.

[00:05:19] [SPEAKER_02]: It's still going on, and we're looking for good help from these folks in trying to fan out into these very hard-to-reach areas.

[00:05:32] [SPEAKER_00]: So, and I'm sure you're aware that people are saying that FEMA has taken all of the supplies, confiscating supplies and such.

[00:05:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Is that what FEMA does?

[00:05:44] [SPEAKER_02]: No, FEMA works very closely with not only the supplies that we have available and we are arranging to be brought in,

[00:05:53] [SPEAKER_02]: but with the various volunteer organizations, the faith-based organizations.

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_02]: We do not confiscate anything that comes from a non-government source.

[00:06:05] [SPEAKER_02]: We are glad to have that kind of help, and in a case like this, cash is the best way that people who want to help can do so,

[00:06:14] [SPEAKER_02]: to legitimate relief organizations, to the Red Cross, rather than try to come in here with pickup trucks loaded with supplies or whatever.

[00:06:26] [SPEAKER_02]: And in this case, because of the road situation, that's a difficult endeavor.

[00:06:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Why is the cash better?

[00:06:35] [SPEAKER_02]: Cash is better because then the organizations who are geared up and already have avenues into the area

[00:06:43] [SPEAKER_02]: and folks in these local counties can purchase the supplies, and they know how to get them into where they're needed.

[00:06:52] [SPEAKER_02]: If some local neighborhood group or a group of neighbors says, let's get in a pickup truck and let's go buy some things that people may need,

[00:07:02] [SPEAKER_02]: and we'll just drive into western North Carolina.

[00:07:05] [SPEAKER_02]: That's not the best approach.

[00:07:07] [SPEAKER_00]: We have heard the $750 number.

[00:07:12] [SPEAKER_00]: What exactly is that $750 number about, and what can people get when they do go through your paperwork process if they have lost their homes?

[00:07:21] [SPEAKER_00]: I've also heard that they're maxing out in like the $40,000 range for a complete loss of a home.

[00:07:29] [SPEAKER_02]: There is slightly over $40,000 is sort of the limit for funds for emergency home repairs.

[00:07:38] [SPEAKER_02]: Homes that are in a state that they are repairable.

[00:07:42] [SPEAKER_02]: Of course, we have a lot of homes that are just gone in a situation like this.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_02]: But we provide what we call transitional sheltering assistance.

[00:07:50] [SPEAKER_02]: And when people register with FEMA, FEMA will look at their situation and contact them and help them place them in hotels or motels.

[00:08:02] [SPEAKER_02]: We've got well over 100 hotels that are participating in this transitional sheltering.

[00:08:08] [SPEAKER_02]: There are still some emergency shelters that are open, 22 of them.

[00:08:13] [SPEAKER_02]: I can tell you also that we provide individual meals.

[00:08:18] [SPEAKER_02]: Almost 5 million individual meals have been delivered by FEMA and our partners, including the National Guard and active duty military, to these North Carolina locations.

[00:08:30] [SPEAKER_02]: We've delivered well over 7 million liters of water.

[00:08:36] [SPEAKER_02]: And this is just an ongoing thing where people are out of these essentials.

[00:08:41] [SPEAKER_02]: Stores are closed or they can't get to a facility and purchase anything or even get to a distribution facility.

[00:08:51] [SPEAKER_02]: We get to them in whatever way we can with the help of our local and state partners.

[00:08:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Nate, Custer, is there anything else you want to add you think is important or interesting for people to know before I let you go?

[00:09:03] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, we've provided over $33 million in housing and other types of assistance so far.

[00:09:11] [SPEAKER_02]: And that assistance has gone to almost 28,000 households.

[00:09:18] [SPEAKER_02]: And in this sheltering assistance for hotels, we've got over 1,400 individuals that are now being housed in hotels on a temporary basis.

[00:09:30] [SPEAKER_02]: But it's not like they're going to be kicked out overnight.

[00:09:34] [SPEAKER_02]: They're there for a while.

[00:09:35] [SPEAKER_02]: FEMA will remain in contact with them and see what their ongoing needs are.

[00:09:40] [SPEAKER_00]: Have you ever been on the scene for a disaster like this?

[00:09:47] [SPEAKER_02]: Not to this extent, Pete.

[00:09:49] [SPEAKER_02]: I've been to several tornadoes to flooding events, whatever.

[00:09:57] [SPEAKER_02]: Never seen it to this extent.

[00:10:00] [SPEAKER_02]: It's just hard to grasp.

[00:10:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Nate, I appreciate your time.

[00:10:07] [SPEAKER_00]: Nate is a media relations specialist with the Office of External Affairs at FEMA.

[00:10:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for your time, sir.

[00:10:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Appreciate it.

[00:10:12] [SPEAKER_00]: We'd love to have you back on to keep us posted.

[00:10:14] [SPEAKER_02]: I'll be glad to do it.

[00:10:15] [SPEAKER_02]: Thanks a lot.

[00:10:16] [SPEAKER_00]: All right.

[00:10:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.

[00:10:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Take care.

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[00:11:20] [SPEAKER_00]: The president put out a statement as part of the response to Governor Cooper's request

[00:11:29] [SPEAKER_00]: for additional support.

[00:11:30] [SPEAKER_00]: The president ordered another 500 active-duty troops with advanced technological assets to

[00:11:37] [SPEAKER_00]: move into Western North Carolina and assist with the response and recovery efforts, with

[00:11:42] [SPEAKER_00]: a total of 1,500 troops now supplementing a robust on-the-ground effort, including more

[00:11:48] [SPEAKER_00]: than 6,100 National Guardsmen and more than 7,000 federal personnel.

[00:11:53] [SPEAKER_00]: My administration is sparing no resource to support families as they begin their road to rebuilding.

[00:12:00] [SPEAKER_00]: The statement goes on to say he has been briefed on Tropical Storm Milton as it strengthens

[00:12:06] [SPEAKER_00]: across the Gulf of Mexico.

[00:12:10] [SPEAKER_00]: And they're already doing evacuation orders down in Florida for that storm.

[00:12:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Albert, welcome to the program.

[00:12:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Hello, Albert.

[00:12:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, Pete, thanks for taking my call.

[00:12:23] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, sir.

[00:12:23] [SPEAKER_01]: I just wanted to thank you.

[00:12:25] [SPEAKER_01]: That last report is super critical and timely because I went through Hugo and I received

[00:12:31] [SPEAKER_01]: a call from my insurance carrier telling me that despite the three trees that fell on my

[00:12:37] [SPEAKER_01]: house, state law required that they didn't have to pay for it.

[00:12:40] [SPEAKER_01]: And this was across the state.

[00:12:43] [SPEAKER_01]: I went into a panic.

[00:12:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Due to an act of God?

[00:12:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Did they call it like act of God exemptions in their insurance policies?

[00:12:50] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, they did.

[00:12:51] [SPEAKER_01]: And then they called me back an hour later and said that they were wrong and that it had been

[00:12:56] [SPEAKER_01]: misinterpreted by the insurance commissioner and they had revised and said that, no, indeed,

[00:13:01] [SPEAKER_01]: it would cover everything, every expense I had.

[00:13:04] [SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, that hour was horrible.

[00:13:07] [SPEAKER_01]: And think about those people in the mountains who, you know, are wondering what I'm only going

[00:13:11] [SPEAKER_01]: to get $40,000.

[00:13:13] [SPEAKER_01]: No, that guy told you you're going to get $40,000 for immediate repairs and immediate

[00:13:18] [SPEAKER_01]: expenses, not all together.

[00:13:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Right.

[00:13:21] [SPEAKER_01]: So that's a relief to people.

[00:13:23] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, people are listening to you.

[00:13:25] [SPEAKER_01]: They're wondering.

[00:13:25] [SPEAKER_01]: They don't know.

[00:13:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Right.

[00:13:28] [SPEAKER_00]: And this has been one of the biggest challenges.

[00:13:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, any time, you know, when there's full power and Internet service, it's a challenge

[00:13:38] [SPEAKER_00]: with, you know, people spreading things that they, I will give them the benefit of the doubt

[00:13:43] [SPEAKER_00]: and say that they believe these things to be true, but there have been a lot of stories

[00:13:48] [SPEAKER_00]: that have been spreading on social media that are not true.

[00:13:54] [SPEAKER_00]: And I don't know what the point of it is, except for engagement farming for people that

[00:13:59] [SPEAKER_00]: want more clicks and likes and views and that sort of stuff on some of the stories that

[00:14:04] [SPEAKER_00]: are like quite easily debunked.

[00:14:06] [SPEAKER_00]: Like, have you heard anything about the lithium mining conspiracy?

[00:14:11] Yep.

[00:14:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[00:14:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Lake Lure, they're going to confiscate it all.

[00:14:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Right.

[00:14:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Well, that's it.

[00:14:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Well, that's another one that has been connected.

[00:14:19] [SPEAKER_00]: So there's like the lithium mine, which they're like, oh, this is because this big lithium

[00:14:24] [SPEAKER_00]: company, lithium mining company, they want to expand and the locals were opposed to it.

[00:14:29] [SPEAKER_00]: And now here comes this storm.

[00:14:30] [SPEAKER_00]: And no, isn't that amazing?

[00:14:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Well, the lithium mine is in Kings Mountain.

[00:14:34] [SPEAKER_00]: That's not in, you know, that's not Batcave.

[00:14:39] [SPEAKER_00]: That's not Henderson County.

[00:14:40] [SPEAKER_00]: That's not Mitchell.

[00:14:41] [SPEAKER_00]: That's, you know, like that's right here.

[00:14:43] [SPEAKER_00]: It's 30 miles away from Charlotte.

[00:14:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Like that's not related at all to the storm.

[00:14:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Um, and the, uh, the one that you just mentioned is the eminent domain, the seizure of property,

[00:14:55] [SPEAKER_00]: right?

[00:14:55] [SPEAKER_00]: There, there was no town meeting in chimney rock.

[00:14:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Um, there was no announcement that they're going to seize all of the property.

[00:15:02] [SPEAKER_00]: There is no attempt to do any of that yet.

[00:15:05] [SPEAKER_00]: People make up this stuff and then they spread it.

[00:15:08] [SPEAKER_00]: And you have a lot of people that are willing to, uh, believe the absolute worst thing for some reason.

[00:15:16] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.

[00:15:17] [SPEAKER_00]: But they, they just, they latch onto these stories and they promote them and push them.

[00:15:22] [SPEAKER_00]: And, um, it just, it, it, it scares people.

[00:15:25] [SPEAKER_00]: And I don't, I have very little patience for that stuff.

[00:15:29] [SPEAKER_01]: I do too.

[00:15:30] [SPEAKER_01]: But it's, you know, again, we heard so many rumors during Hugo, like they said, oh, Sullivan's Island's gone.

[00:15:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, no, it wasn't.

[00:15:37] [SPEAKER_01]: Right.

[00:15:37] [SPEAKER_01]: But I mean, how do you know?

[00:15:38] [SPEAKER_01]: You didn't get to go out there.

[00:15:39] [SPEAKER_01]: You didn't, all you have is hearsay.

[00:15:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, they didn't spread it as hearsay.

[00:15:44] [SPEAKER_01]: Or if they did, then the next person didn't listen to that.

[00:15:47] [SPEAKER_01]: They just heard that Sullivan's Island was gone.

[00:15:49] [SPEAKER_01]: And, and no, it wasn't.

[00:15:51] [SPEAKER_01]: Right.

[00:15:51] [SPEAKER_01]: It was, it was Isle of Ponds was gone, but not Sullivan's Island.

[00:15:55] [SPEAKER_01]: So all the people in Sullivan's who have property, but couldn't go, they were like, you know, distraught until somebody actually came back and said, no, the island's still there.

[00:16:02] [SPEAKER_01]: You're good.

[00:16:03] [SPEAKER_00]: Right.

[00:16:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[00:16:04] [SPEAKER_00]: I got you, Albert.

[00:16:05] [SPEAKER_00]: I appreciate the call, man.

[00:16:07] [SPEAKER_00]: Hey, thanks a lot.

[00:16:08] [SPEAKER_00]: All right.

[00:16:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[00:16:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Take care.

[00:16:10] [SPEAKER_00]: No, it's, it's one of the, it's one of the biggest issues that has yet to be resolved is the communications platforms, cell phone towers, internet access to get people the information that they need, whether it's filling out the FEMA applications or it's finding out, you know, where loved ones are, where rescue operations need to be.

[00:16:32] [SPEAKER_00]: And like, to me, it seems like that should be the first thing to address in emergency preparedness for the state of North Carolina going forward.

[00:16:42] [SPEAKER_00]: All right.

[00:16:43] [SPEAKER_00]: All right.

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[00:17:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Philip, welcome to the program.

[00:17:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Hello, Philip.

[00:17:59] [SPEAKER_03]: Hello.

[00:18:00] [SPEAKER_03]: Hello.

[00:18:00] [SPEAKER_03]: I wonder if we're going to get a round of loan forgiveness on this.

[00:18:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, you mean for your college debts?

[00:18:09] [SPEAKER_03]: Well, it'd make more sense to at least relieve some of these people out there.

[00:18:13] [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, if you've got a house and it's destroyed, you don't have insurance.

[00:18:17] [SPEAKER_03]: You still probably have a mortgage you've got to owe.

[00:18:19] [SPEAKER_03]: You're going to pay.

[00:18:21] [SPEAKER_03]: So what is this?

[00:18:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, your cell phone just broke.

[00:18:26] [SPEAKER_03]: That one lady.

[00:18:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, yeah, go ahead.

[00:18:29] [SPEAKER_03]: What happens with that lady who owned the restaurant?

[00:18:31] [SPEAKER_03]: So she owned the restaurant, she owned the property, but the property no longer exists because it's in the river.

[00:18:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[00:18:39] [SPEAKER_03]: What happens with that?

[00:18:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, well, I mean, that's where you would be.

[00:18:42] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, that's why I say FEMA writes the checks, right?

[00:18:45] [SPEAKER_00]: So you would apply for, you know, total loss compensation with the federal program for the disaster relief.

[00:18:54] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.

[00:18:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Like, I've never – the last time we had something of this magnitude that where I was here was Hurricane Floyd down east.

[00:19:06] [SPEAKER_00]: But a lot of that property was farm.

[00:19:10] [SPEAKER_00]: And so they were able to, you know, obviously, you know, turn it back into hog farms.

[00:19:15] [SPEAKER_00]: So, yeah, I don't know.

[00:19:18] [SPEAKER_00]: I've never seen anything like what we just saw in western North Carolina.

[00:19:24] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, and I guess part of me – when it comes to insurance companies, they always get demonized.

[00:19:29] [SPEAKER_03]: Why aren't they paying this?

[00:19:30] [SPEAKER_03]: Why aren't they paying that?

[00:19:31] [SPEAKER_03]: Well, because it's not part of the policy.

[00:19:34] [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, if, in fact, the policy covered earthquake, covered flood, and everything else, your premiums would be four times as high.

[00:19:43] [SPEAKER_03]: The policy is meant to cover losses that are predictable in your area and losses that you want to insure it toward, which is – it is sad in this situation.

[00:19:54] [SPEAKER_03]: But it's the reality of the insurance policy.

[00:19:59] [SPEAKER_03]: It is what it is.

[00:20:00] [SPEAKER_03]: You don't have the coverage.

[00:20:02] [SPEAKER_03]: The insurance company is not going to pay.

[00:20:04] [SPEAKER_03]: That's where the government can step in, assist some.

[00:20:07] [SPEAKER_03]: But I don't think you're going to expect to get your full house replaced.

[00:20:12] [SPEAKER_03]: And that's tough.

[00:20:13] [SPEAKER_03]: That is tough.

[00:20:13] [SPEAKER_03]: And that's where the citizens and the churches and everybody else comes in and steps in.

[00:20:18] [SPEAKER_03]: And for the poor people who really had nothing, they didn't have fancy houses, they had a basic house, you know, I think more needs to go to them because they don't have an option.

[00:20:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I am curious as to, you know, what kind of relief we're going to see for people who owned trailers.

[00:20:38] [SPEAKER_00]: You know, I guess it's easy to forget around these parts because they basically banned mobile homes and mobile home parks and such in Mecklenburg County.

[00:20:47] [SPEAKER_00]: But out in the mountains, that is a huge portion of the housing stock.

[00:20:53] [SPEAKER_00]: People out there, you know, they may be land rich but house poor.

[00:20:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Exactly.

[00:20:59] [SPEAKER_00]: And those things got just wiped off, literally wiped off the mountain.

[00:21:04] [SPEAKER_00]: And then you've got people that have built, you know, multimillion-dollar mansions.

[00:21:08] [SPEAKER_00]: And those, too, may have been wiped off.

[00:21:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Now, I don't know what becomes of them either.

[00:21:13] [SPEAKER_00]: And is there, you know, is there a similar standard for both?

[00:21:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's a good question.

[00:21:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Philip, I do appreciate the call.

[00:21:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Look, it's, you know, I have mixed feelings on the insurance industry.

[00:21:28] [SPEAKER_00]: I understand the game, right?

[00:21:31] [SPEAKER_00]: They're making bets against certain things.

[00:21:34] [SPEAKER_00]: And they've got actuarial tables that tell them you're going to die, you're not going to die, this age, this comorbidity, right?

[00:21:41] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a numbers game.

[00:21:43] [SPEAKER_00]: And when the numbers get too bad for them, they bail.

[00:21:47] [SPEAKER_00]: They don't write policies.

[00:21:48] [SPEAKER_00]: We're seeing it all over the country.

[00:21:50] [SPEAKER_00]: They don't want to write car insurance because they took losses in the home sector, right?

[00:21:54] [SPEAKER_00]: Or vice versa.

[00:21:57] [SPEAKER_00]: I will tell you, like, we're dealing with, in our neighborhood, we can't get an insurance carrier to write a policy for a water slide.

[00:22:10] [SPEAKER_00]: The companies won't do it.

[00:22:12] [SPEAKER_00]: They just refuse to do it.

[00:22:15] [SPEAKER_00]: So we got to, we're fixing to tear down a slide.

[00:22:21] [SPEAKER_00]: They're going to tear down a slide because the insurance companies won't write a policy for the water slide.

[00:22:28] [SPEAKER_00]: They just don't want to, like, we don't want to assume the risk.

[00:22:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Like, okay.

[00:22:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Like, at some point, what is it you say you do here, right?

[00:22:37] [SPEAKER_00]: At some point.

[00:22:39] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know where that point is and which sector, you know, which product or line you're writing for.

[00:22:46] [SPEAKER_00]: And I say this as one who had an insurance sales license 20 years ago.

[00:22:54] [SPEAKER_00]: But, um, I, so I understand it's a numbers game.

[00:22:57] [SPEAKER_00]: I do get that.

[00:22:59] [SPEAKER_00]: And, uh, that they would be out of business if they took too many risks or they had to pay out too much all at once.

[00:23:06] [SPEAKER_00]: I understand.

[00:23:07] [SPEAKER_00]: I understand.

[00:23:08] [SPEAKER_00]: And then the rates wouldn't be affordable for people on the front end.

[00:23:14] [SPEAKER_00]: And that's why the government steps in.

[00:23:16] [SPEAKER_00]: I still think it's pretty crappy.

[00:23:20] [SPEAKER_00]: I still do.

[00:23:21] [SPEAKER_00]: I like, and I don't have an answer for it.

[00:23:23] [SPEAKER_00]: I know I'm just complaining here, but I don't like it.

[00:23:25] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't like the system, um, when it comes to this stuff.

[00:23:29] [SPEAKER_00]: But I don't have any answers.

[00:23:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Which is weird for me because I am usually all about the solutions.

[00:23:34] [SPEAKER_00]: You know, I am all about them.

[00:23:35] [SPEAKER_00]: So when I was a kid, my grandpa died with Alzheimer's.

[00:23:38] [SPEAKER_00]: And before he died, my mom and my dad and all of us really helped take care of him as he got progressively worse.

[00:23:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Forty years ago, there were no treatments and not much support for caregivers and family.

[00:23:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Things are different today because of the work of so many people, including the Alzheimer's Association of Western North Carolina.

[00:23:55] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a great organization with awesome people.

[00:23:58] [SPEAKER_00]: They've got huge hearts.

[00:23:59] [SPEAKER_00]: I've been a supporter for like 25 years.

[00:24:01] [SPEAKER_00]: This cause means a lot to me.

[00:24:03] [SPEAKER_00]: I participate in the annual walk to end Alzheimer's and I am leading a Charlotte team this year.

[00:24:09] [SPEAKER_00]: It's called Pete's Pack.

[00:24:10] [SPEAKER_00]: You can sign up and join the team and walk with me.

[00:24:13] [SPEAKER_00]: It's on October 19th at Truist Field in Uptown.

[00:24:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Sign up at alz.org slash walk and then just look for my team, Pete's Pack.

[00:24:22] [SPEAKER_00]: And there's also a link in the podcast description here.

[00:24:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Also, I'm going to be emceeing the Gastonia Walk on October 5th.

[00:24:28] [SPEAKER_00]: So make a team and join us or make a donation to help me hit my goal.

[00:24:32] [SPEAKER_00]: I would really appreciate it.

[00:24:33] [SPEAKER_00]: There are a bunch of other walks around the Carolinas and you can go to alz.org for all of the dates and locations.

[00:24:41] [SPEAKER_00]: We are closer than ever to stopping Alzheimer's.

[00:24:44] [SPEAKER_00]: And if you can help us get there, we would really appreciate it.

[00:24:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Will you come walk with me for a different future, for families, for more time, for treatments?

[00:24:53] [SPEAKER_00]: This is why I walk.

[00:24:56] [SPEAKER_00]: It's so stupid.

[00:24:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Like the spruce mine thing, that made some bit of sense.

[00:25:02] [SPEAKER_00]: The quartz mine up in spruce pine, which has been ravaged up there.

[00:25:10] [SPEAKER_00]: But the mine operators are like, our first priority is the workers, the mine workers.

[00:25:17] [SPEAKER_00]: And the mine is expected to reopen.

[00:25:20] [SPEAKER_00]: So I guess that's why everybody is now shifting the focus to the lithium mines.

[00:25:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Or mine.

[00:25:27] [SPEAKER_00]: In Gaston County.

[00:25:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Gaston County.

[00:25:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Kings Mountain.

[00:25:33] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying that place, Gaston County, Kings Mountain was totally unaffected by Hurricane Helene.

[00:25:38] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying that.

[00:25:39] [SPEAKER_00]: They were.

[00:25:40] [SPEAKER_00]: I know people that lost power and stuff over there.

[00:25:43] [SPEAKER_00]: I, you know, I get it.

[00:25:45] [SPEAKER_00]: But it's got nothing to do with Asheville.

[00:25:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay?

[00:25:49] [SPEAKER_00]: It's got nothing to do with getting people off of the sides of mountains.

[00:25:55] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a lithium mine.

[00:25:57] [SPEAKER_00]: And they were actually going through the permitting process to expand because the demand for lithium increased.

[00:26:04] [SPEAKER_00]: You know what happened before it increased?

[00:26:07] [SPEAKER_00]: It went down.

[00:26:08] [SPEAKER_00]: The demand was down.

[00:26:09] [SPEAKER_00]: And so they were not doing a lot of the mining that they could have otherwise been doing.

[00:26:14] [SPEAKER_00]: But then demand started going up.

[00:26:16] [SPEAKER_00]: So they're like, hey, we want to expand our mine.

[00:26:18] [SPEAKER_00]: So they started the process.

[00:26:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Like, I don't know, a year ago.

[00:26:21] [SPEAKER_00]: We've seen.

[00:26:22] [SPEAKER_00]: There have been stories about it in our local news for like a year.

[00:26:27] [SPEAKER_00]: And now all of a sudden you get people on TikTok that are like, there's some company, Albert Mays.

[00:26:34] [SPEAKER_00]: Mine or something.

[00:26:35] [SPEAKER_00]: And I know all of the details.

[00:26:40] [SPEAKER_00]: I'll tell you what's really going on.

[00:26:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Like, you don't even know the name of the company.

[00:26:43] [SPEAKER_00]: It's Albemarle.

[00:26:44] [SPEAKER_00]: You don't even know the name of the company.

[00:26:47] [SPEAKER_00]: So no, I don't trust you.

[00:26:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Sorry.

[00:26:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Here endeth the rant.

[00:26:52] [SPEAKER_00]: Let's see.

[00:26:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Mecklenburg County and Swain Counties got added to the FEMA emergency assistance zones.

[00:27:07] [SPEAKER_00]: Homeowners and renters in Mecklenburg and Swain Counties who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Helene are now eligible to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

[00:27:21] [SPEAKER_00]: They may be able to help with FEMA.

[00:27:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Could help with serious needs.

[00:27:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Displacement.

[00:27:26] [SPEAKER_00]: Temporary lodging.

[00:27:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Basic home repair costs.

[00:27:30] [SPEAKER_00]: That's the $45,000.

[00:27:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Personal property loss.

[00:27:34] [SPEAKER_00]: Other disaster caused needs.

[00:27:36] [SPEAKER_00]: There are a whole bunch of other counties.

[00:27:38] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to run through them that have already been part of the declaration.

[00:27:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Alexander, Allegheny, Ash, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties.

[00:28:07] [SPEAKER_00]: As well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, they were all authorized for assistance to households.

[00:28:14] [SPEAKER_00]: And you go to disasterassistance.gov.

[00:28:19] [SPEAKER_00]: You can also use the app that FEMA has.

[00:28:23] [SPEAKER_00]: There is an app.

[00:28:24] [SPEAKER_00]: You can also call 800-621-3362.

[00:28:29] [SPEAKER_00]: That's 800-621-3362.

[00:28:34] [SPEAKER_00]: What you will need.

[00:28:36] [SPEAKER_00]: A current phone number where they can contact you.

[00:28:40] [SPEAKER_00]: The address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying.

[00:28:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Social security number.

[00:28:49] [SPEAKER_00]: A general list of damage and losses.

[00:28:53] [SPEAKER_00]: If you want to do a direct deposit, then you're going to need, obviously, the banking information, the routing number.

[00:29:01] [SPEAKER_00]: You need that, which I understand you may not have access to now.

[00:29:05] [SPEAKER_00]: But that's if you want direct deposit.

[00:29:10] [SPEAKER_00]: And if you are insured, the policy number or the agent and or the company name.

[00:29:18] [SPEAKER_00]: So that's what you want to be trying to get together if you can.

[00:29:25] [SPEAKER_00]: If you have homeowner's insurance, renter's insurance, or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible.

[00:29:34] [SPEAKER_00]: FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance.

[00:29:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay?

[00:29:39] [SPEAKER_00]: So you can't double dip.

[00:29:42] [SPEAKER_00]: If your insurance is going to pay out more, then don't do the FEMA one.

[00:29:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Right?

[00:29:48] [SPEAKER_00]: If the insurance company is going to pay you more for your losses, do that one so you get your losses covered versus going through the FEMA process.

[00:29:58] [SPEAKER_00]: If your policy does not cover all of your disaster expenses, then you may be eligible for federal assistance.

[00:30:09] [SPEAKER_00]: It's just, I know it's a lot of work and it's a mess.

[00:30:14] [SPEAKER_00]: I understand.

[00:30:16] [SPEAKER_00]: But that's how you go about getting some of the payments.

[00:30:23] [SPEAKER_00]: The American Red Cross has established fixed feeding sites throughout western North Carolina.

[00:30:30] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to run through these pretty quickly here.

[00:30:33] [SPEAKER_00]: And by the way, for people who may be in Charlotte and wondering, why is Pete doing this?

[00:30:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Because I worked in Asheville for eight years.

[00:30:41] [SPEAKER_00]: I have a very large audience that listens to the podcasts, which this becomes.

[00:30:46] [SPEAKER_00]: This show becomes the podcast.

[00:30:47] [SPEAKER_00]: And so they are listening in western North Carolina.

[00:30:51] [SPEAKER_00]: And so that's why I'm doing this kind of information, even though the broadcast signal may not get all the way up there.

[00:31:00] [SPEAKER_00]: Although it does get pretty close.

[00:31:02] [SPEAKER_00]: And depending on the weather, sometimes it actually does get into Asheville itself.

[00:31:11] [SPEAKER_00]: So here's where the Red Cross is setting up.

[00:31:14] [SPEAKER_00]: And they're doing it in partnership with Ingalls, the grocery store.

[00:31:17] [SPEAKER_00]: They're a great partner.

[00:31:18] [SPEAKER_00]: So Burnsville Ingalls, Weaverville Ingalls, Marion Ingalls.

[00:31:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Also, they maintain a feeding site in partnership with Walmart up in Boone.

[00:31:30] [SPEAKER_00]: And these are in addition to the mobile feeding stations that the Red Cross has been deploying throughout western North Carolina as well.

[00:31:38] [SPEAKER_00]: All right.

[00:31:39] [SPEAKER_00]: That'll do it for this episode.

[00:31:40] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening.

[00:31:42] [SPEAKER_00]: I could not do the show without your support and the support of the businesses that advertise on the podcast.

[00:31:47] [SPEAKER_00]: So if you'd like, please support them, too.

[00:31:49] [SPEAKER_00]: And tell them you heard it here.

[00:31:50] [SPEAKER_00]: You can also become a patron at my Patreon page or go to the Pete Calendar show dot com.

[00:31:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Again, thank you so much for listening.

[00:31:57] [SPEAKER_00]: And don't break anything while I'm gone.