The insurance and risk-management data-services provider CoreLogic recently updated its Hurricane Helene damage estimate to between $30.5 billion and $47.5 billion. These amounts represent losses from wind and flood damage related to the storm, with between $10.5 billion and $17.5 billion being insured losses. Helene is now among the 10 most expensive U.S. hurricanes in history, ahead of Ike and Andrew and behind Katrina, Harvey, Ian, Maria, Ida, Sandy and Irma. Helene formed on Sept. 24, 2024 and inflicted damage across the Southern U.S. in addition to parts of Mexico and Caribbean before dissipating five days later. Hard-hit areas continue to struggle to restore normalcy. Power has not yet been restored to more than 5.3 million people in North Carolina, more than 2.8 million people in South Carolina, and more than 4.9 million people in Georgia, according to PowerOutage.U.S. "When intense storm surge and flooding events, like Hurricane Helene, reach regions that are infrequently affected by natural hazards, we can expect to see damage to homes without flood insurance coverage, Jon Schneyer, Director of Catastrophe Response at CoreLogic, said in a statement. "The fact that so much damage was concentrated outside the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) makes it challenging to realize the full extent of impact to uninsured homeowners." Meanwhile, a new storm developing in the Gulf of Mexico is threatening to grow into another major hurricane. Tropical Storm Milton may develop into a Category 3 storm before making landfall later this week, The U.S. National Hurricane Center has reported. "It's a scary situation," AccuWeather meteorological Brandon Buckingham told Bloomberg. The coverage experts at FC&S continue to gather state-level insurance updates in the wake of Hurricane Helene and other major weather events including these recent bulletins:

• North Carolina Opens Victim Assistance Centers following Hurricane Helene
• Louisiana Warns Consumers of Increase in Online Scams After Hurricane Francine
• North Carolina Commissioner Order Providing Consumer Protection after Hurricane Helene

And the South Carolina Department of Insurance compiled the following tips for people who experienced damage as a result of Hurricane Helene:

1. Secure the area. Look out for dangerous fallen power lines or gas leaks. Stay away from these areas. If you notice such damage, call your insurance agent.
2. If the area is safe, take photos of the damage. Then, take steps to mitigate any further damage that could happen. For example, if there is a hole in your roof, take steps to cover the area with a tarp to prevent further damage to the inside of your home.
3. Immediately file a claim with your insurance company. Keep all photos and receipts as these will be useful in processing your claim. Click here to find insurance carrier phone numbers.

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