North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey plans stops in Beaufort and Hyde counties on Thursday, Jan. 24, to visit fire and emergency workers along with insurance agents.

The visit will include ceremonial check presentations to two volunteer fire departments in Hyde County during the afternoon. The Swan Quarter and Ponzer fire departments each received $30,000 grants to purchase needed updates and equipment.

Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, will listen to firefighters’ concerns and discuss ways to improve volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention during stops at fire stations. While meeting with insurance agents, Commissioner Causey will discuss his efforts to modernize the insurance industry and listen to agents’ concerns. In addition, Commissioner Causey will meet the Beaufort County Emergency Planning Committee in Chocowinity and with workers at the Mattamuskeet Senior Center in Swan Quarter.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for the day:

9:30 a.m. — Beaufort County Leadership and Emergency Services, Chocowinity Fire and EMS Department, 512 N.C. 33, Chocowinity

10:30 a.m. — Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce (Agent meet and greet),102 W. Stewart Parkway, Washington

11:15 a.m. — Bunyan Volunteer Fire Department, 8264 Broad Creek Road, Washington

2:00 p.m. — Mattamuskeet Senior Center (Meet with director and workers), 60 Juniper Bay Road, Swan Quarter

2:30 p.m. — Swan Quarter Volunteer Fire Department, 25 Oyster Creek St., Swan Quarter

3:00 p.m. — Hyde County Farm Bureau, 13421 U.S. 264, Swan Quarter

3:30 p.m. — Ponzer Volunteer Fire & Rescue, 40186 U.S. 264, Belhaven