Commissioner Causey honors 41 Criminal Investigations Division employees with new Hurricane Helene response award

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey presented 41 members of the North Carolina Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division with a special 'Operation Helene' award during a presentation held in Raleigh today.

The award, created in October to honor heroic actions related to Hurricane Helene response, honors the 41 special agents and staff members who responded immediately following the storm.

"Our agents stood ready to respond immediately in a time of crisis, and they showed the true meaning of public service," said Commissioner Causey. "Their actions undoubtedly saved numerous lives and made a tremendous impact on North Carolinians who suffered the worst of Helene's impacts, particularly in McDowell County."

Among the duties agents performed included:

• assisted EMS with medical calls for service
• provided 24-hour security to the Emergency Operations Center's resources facility, which housed personnel from all over the country who were assisting with storm relief efforts
• transported supplies to relief distribution centers
• provided security for distribution centers
• provided logistics support for a variety of unanticipated tractor trailers load with supplies
• assisted with traffic control
• searched for missing persons
• evacuated livestock
• provided law enforcement back-up services to towns which had been overwhelmed with calls for service
• loaded and unloaded supplies, and transported supplies into impacted areas

"I applaud each of these agents and staff, who without hesitation signed up willing to do whatever was necessary to assist the citizens of this great state in their time of need," said Marty Sumner, Senior Deputy Commissioner of DOI's Fraud Control Group. "They witnessed many things while deployed and they themselves went into an area to stay for multiple days without electricity or adequate living conditions that we are accustomed too. They packed and prepared to fend for themselves for several days knowing that normal conveniences would not be afforded to them. Today we salute them."

The Office of Insurance Commissioner was created under North Carolina Constitutional authority in 1899. The Commissioner was empowered to have investigative authority and appoint an investigator, in addition to the administrative and regulatory duties. The North Carolina Department of Insurance Investigations Division is the oldest fraud investigations unit in the Nation.

For more information on Helene-related events, news and resources, visit www.ncdoi.gov/helene or contact the NCDOI Consumer Services Division for support at 1-855-408-1212.