I-Team: One month after Florence, payments exceed $ 1 billion – and it continues

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) –

From Cumberland County to the coast, the Hurricane Florence disaster continues to affect families in North Carolina.

To date, state and federal officials have told ABC11 that more than $ 1 billion has already been paid through private insurance claims and grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA).

The ABC11 team followed two families on the path to healing, highlighting the physical work and emotional strength needed to rebuild their lives after the damage caused by the storm.

A family, the Gaddys, depends on the insurance of their tenants to keep them afloat when they move into a new home. After spending five nights in a Red Cross shelter, Maurice and Carrie Gaddy, along with the five children, stayed in a hotel for three weeks.

"It has been stressful," Maurice told ABC11. "We want to do the best for our children."

Fortunately, the Gaddys have found a new home for rent this week alone; insurance coverage also provided storage modules for the move. The new house – up a hill – is stuffed with boxes with barely a few ways to maneuver, but they are not going to complain.

"It was a tough fight, but now that we got a roof, a nice place, a warm place, a cool place to stay, it was God who sent us to prepare a homemade meal," said Maurice.

According to the Insurance Department of North Carolina, hurricane victims have filed more than 282,000 claims with nearly 200 insurance entities.

Nearly five weeks after the storm, 65,000 claims were settled, for a total of $ 540 million, with an additional $ 1.2 billion potentially on the way for the remaining claims.

Data shared with the I-Team also show that more than half of the claims have been filed with homeowners or tenants insurers; about 25% were covered by flood insurance and 20% by commercial properties and car insurance.

While the Gaddys have had the chance to purchase renter's insurance, Chauncey and Sharon Payne are counting on a $ 10,000 grant from FEMA.

"The money came quickly and I was surprised when he was on my account," said Chauncey Payne. "It's a start, it gives me hope."

The Paynes House in Fayetteville has been reduced to its stallions – again – a process they know well after the Hurricane Matthew flood.

"If I can finish the kitchen and the bedroom, I will be able to live in this house and work with what will remain with all the money I would receive," said Chauncey.

FEMA officials announced more than $ 507 million in financial assistance to families in North Carolina, including $ 214 million in flood insurance, $ 102 million in uninsured injuries and $ 191 million in loans from the Small Business Administration.

FEMA still has disaster recovery centers open in 19 counties, where victims can meet face-to-face with FEMA, the state, the SBA and other organizations providing assistance.