Flood Damage Claims in Lumberton and Robeson County

Lumberton has been through something few towns have: two catastrophic Lumber River floods in the space of two years, from Hurricane Matthew and then Hurricane Florence. Many homes flooded twice, and that history shapes flood claims here in ways it doesn't elsewhere. This page covers what's specific to Lumberton. For 35 years, Insurance Claims Consultants has helped property owners across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia recover what their policies actually owe them.

"My name's on this business, and after 45 years I still take these calls myself — and I stand behind every claim we take." — Jeffrey A. Raines, Founder

Call us directly at (864) 497-2151.

Flood damage isn't covered by a standard homeowners policy. It takes a separate flood policy, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which has its own rules, its own limits, and a strict deadline to file a signed Proof of Loss, generally within 60 days of the flood. Photograph high-water lines and every damaged item before cleanup. Our flood damage claims guide walks through the full NFIP process step by step.

Lumberton's flooding comes from the Lumber River rather than the ocean. During Matthew and again during Florence, the river rose high enough to shut down Interstate 95 through town, and Florence's crest ran higher than Matthew's.

West and South Lumberton sit behind a levee built decades ago, but the levee has a gap where the CSX railroad passes under I-95 near VFW Road. In both storms, river water poured through that opening and into neighborhoods like the area along West 5th Street, flooding homes that had stayed dry for years. The city has planned a permanent floodgate for that gap, sequenced with the rebuilding of I-95 over the river. Check with the City for its current status rather than assuming the gap is closed.

River flooding usually builds over days, not hours. If a crest is forecast, that window is your chance to photograph your home and belongings in their pre-flood condition and move what you can to higher ground. Both steps make a later claim stronger.

Repeat flooding creates problems a first-time claim doesn't have:

• Prior damage must have been repaired. The NFIP won't pay twice for the same damage. If repairs from an earlier flood were never completed, the adjuster can deduct that unrepaired damage from your new claim.
• Keep proof of every repair. Contractor invoices, receipts, permits, and before-and-after photos from the last rebuild are what separate this flood's damage from the last one's. Store copies somewhere that won't flood.
• Check your coverage after each claim. Make sure the policy was renewed, both building and contents coverage are in place, and the limits still fit what it costs to rebuild today.

Under the NFIP and local flood ordinances, if the cost to repair a flooded home in a high-risk flood zone equals or exceeds 50% of the building's market value before the damage, the home is considered "substantially damaged." It then has to be brought up to current flood rules, which usually means elevating it above the base flood elevation. That call is made by the local floodplain administrator, not your insurance company.

• The repair estimate drives the decision. An accurate, complete estimate matters twice: once for your settlement, and again for how the local office classifies your home.
• Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage. NFIP policies include a separate, limited amount of coverage to help pay for elevation or other work required after a substantial damage determination. It has to be claimed, and many owners never do.
• Homes that have flooded more than once are the ones most likely to reach the 50% threshold. Talk to the local floodplain office before rebuilding again.

Inside Lumberton city limits: City of Lumberton Inspections, 500 N. Cedar Street, (910) 671-3838.

Elsewhere in Robeson County: Robeson County Building Safety & Code Enforcement, 701 N. Elm Street, Lumberton, (910) 272-6540.

To check your property's flood zone, use North Carolina's Flood Risk Information System or FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.

Emergencies: Call 911.

National Flood Insurance Program: (877) 336-2627, floodsmart.gov

FEMA disaster assistance (after a declared disaster): (800) 621-3362, disasterassistance.gov

Shelter and supplies: American Red Cross, 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

Local assistance of all kinds: Dial 211 for housing, food, and utility help.

Emotional support: Call or text 988, any time of day.

Talk With Us About Your Lumberton Flood Claim

A Lumberton flood claim often comes with history: an earlier flood, earlier repairs, and a substantial damage decision that can change the whole rebuild. We'll review your flood policy, look at what the adjuster's estimate leaves out, and tell you plainly whether we can help.

Click the ICC logo below to talk with us live by phone or video conference, or call us directly at (864) 497-2151. We serve all of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.