RALEIGH — North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has set up five flood insurance conferences statewide to inform the public, insurance and real estate agents of the need to purchase flood insurance, regardless of where you live.

Hurricane season runs June 1 until Nov. 1 and typically during this period, at least one major storm forms and impacts our state. Last year, the flooding from Hurricane Florence devastated thousands of residents who didn’t have flood insurance because they relied on their homeowners’ policy that does not cover damage from rising water.

This hurricane season, Commissioner Causey is so adamant residents are aware of the differences in policy coverage that, for the first time, he is offering free continuing education course credits for insurance agents who attend the conference “Flood Insurance: Protecting Consumers and Agents.”  Real estate agents have also been approved to receive free CE credit.

Registration for the conference is also free.

The flood insurance conference will feature the expertise of NCDOI Chief Deputy Commissioner Dr. Michelle Osborne, flood insurance specialist Charlotte Hicks, CPA, CIC, AAI, ARM, and FEMA officials who, among other things, will discuss the modernization of flood maps.  The updated maps  will help residents who, at one time, could not purchase flood coverage because of its cost.

The conference is also open to the public.