Richmond County may not be one of the county’s that typically faces the brunt of hurricane damage, but with experts predicting one of the most active seasons on the record, it’s important citizens be prepared for anything that blows this way.

Richmond County officials emphasized having a 72-hour emergency preparedness kit with enough food and medical supplies for everyone in the household, and practicing sound judgment in the event of flooding as the six-month hurricane season began this week.

“We’ve been very fortunate throughout the years when it comes to hurricanes,” Richmond County Emergency Management Director Frank McKay said Tuesday. “In the event of an emergency situation, it’s important people know how to respond, though, especially to flooding in the area.”

“Storm flooding remains a concern,” Richmond County Health Department Environmental Health Supervisor Mike Norton said. “Citizens need to have a kit of supplies to take care of themselves for 72 hours.”

McKay stressed having enough food, water and medical supplies, as well as specialty items such as diapers for families with infants or diabetic supplies for diabetics and enough cash to stay afloat.

“A lot of people don’t think about it, but what would you do if you didn’t have access to your ATM or bank for say, a week,” McKay said. “Could you make it? For many the answer is no because we tend not to carry that much cash on us anymore.”

He said Richmond County is subject to flooding, pointing to the flood of 2008 that shut down Business 74 in Rockingham in an incident that wasn’t related to a hurricane.

He called the flood, “a learning experience for the county,” when it discovered its capabilities in responding to challenges from the environment.

More than 8 inches of rain fell in less than a 24-hour period, but Business 74 was reopened the night of the flooding.

“Certainly inland, more people are killed from flooding than from any other method related to hurricanes,” McKay said Tuesday. “Much of that stems from people not having a lot of experience dealing with flooding, and being aware of their surroundings.”

He said residents who have lived in the same place for years may know what areas are prone to flooding and what areas will most likely avoid it, but many don’t know where the water will come from or go to in an emergency situation.

“It’s very difficult to tell where water will collect and how long it will take to go away,” McKay explained. “Then, you get into situations where people are driving and see a puddle of water and think they can drive through it, but they can’t.”

McKay said high water levels on the roadway can sweep a vehicle from the road, presenting danger to motorists and passengers.

Should conditions reach that level in the county, the evacuation of homes may become necessary, McKay said, but there is no concrete plan in place to evacuate the entire county.

“What we have are plans to evacuate certain areas should it reach that point,” McKay explained. “One way we would seek to reach people in that situation is through local radio. Television wouldn’t be as much help in that situation, because many people have battery-operated radios but few have battery-operated televisions.”

He said the county wouldn’t mandate the evacuation of homes unless there was an extenuating circumstance, and would rely heavily on first responders; such as emergency medical technicians, firefighters and law enforcement; to contact people in the county.

“They would be more familiar with the area, where people live, where flooding will happen and maybe even the medical conditions of residents,” McKay said.

McKay also suggested homeowners and renters purchase insurance policies on their belongings, and to catalogue items in the home, which are issues North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin touched on in his blog, “Wayne’s World.”

“One of the most basic ways for people to get prepared is to review their insurance policies, inventory their home’s contents and compile important documents in a safe place,” Goodwin said. “Knowing what your coverage is now gives you the chance to make adjustments and have those adjustments take effect before a storm comes to North Carolina.”

He continued to say a lot of homeowners and renters are not familiar with their policies and may think they have more coverage than they really do.

“We want people to have the insurance coverage they need to weather any storm that comes to North Carolina,” Goodwin said. “I also encourage North Carolinians to be on the lookout for unscrupulous businesses that take advantage of folks when they need help and are most vulnerable. I’ve heard from criminal investigators on my staff that storm-related scams are on the rise in North Carolina.”

He said one scam that has become common in the state is carried out by roofing companies that learn from news reports what areas may have suffered wind or hail damage, then travel there from door-to-door telling homeowners their roofs are in need of repairs, when they may not be damaged or damage may be caused intentionally by the contractor.

Goodwin offered tips to avoid being victimized in an insurance scam this hurricane season:

If you suffer property loss in your home or vehicle, contact your insurance agent or insurance company as soon as possible to arrange a visit from an adjuster. The Department of Insurance will be in close contact with top insurance companies doing business in the state. It will have up-to-date consumer hotline numbers available for those who need to contact companies.

Before doing any repairs to your house, photograph and make a list of the damage.

Protect your home from further damage by making temporary repairs only, until your insurance company can advise you further. Save any receipts for materials purchased for repairs.

Do not have permanent repairs made until your insurance company has inspected the property and you have reached an agreement on the cost of repairs.

If necessary, rent temporary shelter. If your home is uninhabitable due to physical damage (not lack of power or water), most homeowners policies pay additional living expenses while your property is being repaired. Before renting temporary shelter, check with your insurance company or agent to determine what expenses will be reimbursed.

Always remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Deal only with licensed agents and companies.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.