North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced a State of Emergency for Moore County and 12 other counties to facilitate and support long-term recovery efforts from flooding caused by Tropical Storm Chantal. In accordance with the North Carolina Emergency Management Act, this is critical to make state and federal recovery assistance available, said Stein.
“Tropical Storm Chantal cost some of our neighbors their lives and others their livelihood and property. We must do everything we can to support them as they get back on their feet,” said Stein in a press release. “This State of Emergency will help get North Carolinians the support they need and enable the state to seek out potential funding to help communities rebuild.”
Tropical Storm Chantal hit central North Carolina on July 6, with some locations seeing as much as nine to 12 inches of rain. The Haw River, the Eno River, and Jordan Lake, among others, experienced record or near-record water levels.
Flooding impacted critical infrastructure and public and private property. Sections of major highways were closed due to high water, and some communities experienced road closures and evacuations.
Locally, Aberdeen Lake and Crystal Lake, in the Lakeview community, breached their banks. Multiple roads washed out, shopping centers flooded, and a dam breach at the Longleaf golf course lake caused extensive damage to nearby streets and homes.
The Division of Emergency Management is working with local officials to assess the scope of damage caused by Tropical Storm Chantal. As the full damage assessment is completed in concert with relevant federal partners, the declaration, along with the assessment analysis, will determine possible additional support that residents, businesses, and local governments may receive to accelerate the recovery process and support expenses incurred during the response phase of the disaster.
The State of Emergency covers Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Randolph, and Wake counties.
Feature photo: Southern Pines Village shopping center during Tropical Storm Chantal on July 6. Photo via Town of Southern Pines.
For Moore news delivered straight to your inbox, please click here to sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel e-newsletter.
Contributed article.
