BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. — Lynetta Karlson took North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey around what’s left of her daughter and son-in-law’s home Thursday.

“You can see the waterline Mr. Causey,” Karlson said.

During the recent storm, 4 feet of floodwater poured through the house. Her family, including her granddaughter, had to be rescued by boat. They’re not sure what they need to do now.

What You Need To Know

  • N.C. Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey saw blocked roadways and bridges that were slammed by the storm

  • He also visited some of the homeowners in the Stony Creek neighborhood in Leland

  • Residents who are cleaning up told about their experiences during the storm

“We do not have any clear answers at this point,” Karlson said. “I mean the house is restricted occupancy at this point, meaning that no electric can be turned on. The house needs to be mucked out.”

Causey was on a tour of some of the storm-damaged places in Brunswick County. Part of that tour brought him to the neighborhood where Karlson’s family lives. As he followed her through the house, a powerful smell of water damage filled the air.

“This is my children’s first home,” Karlson said. “They had a lot of pride They worked hard to get this first home. So even trying to replace this … is going to be scary because of the cost of everything,”.

Before he left, Causey gave Karlson a sympathetic hug.

“You can see the devastation, where they’ve lost everything. And you can see the damage that 2 or 3 foot of water can cause,” Causey said.

Causey also saw several damaged roads and bridges during his visit.