NORTH CAROLINA
— Central North Carolina remains on edge as more
severe thunderstorms
are forecast to hit the region just days after
Tropical Storm Chantal
brought historic inland flooding, damaged infrastructure, and overwhelmed town utilities.
The
National Weather Service
has issued warnings for
strong storms across western and central North Carolina and parts of upstate South Carolina
, warning of
damaging wind gusts
, potential
flash flooding
, and
falling trees
, especially in areas where the ground is already saturated.
Flooded Towns Face Lingering Water and Sewer Issues
The storm’s aftermath has left multiple towns scrambling to restore essential services. In
Orange and Alamance counties
, many residents were left without clean drinking water following
Chantal’s landfall on Sunday
. Five deaths were confirmed during the storm’s impact.
The
Graham-Mebane Water Treatment Plant
flooded, creating
water shortages
in
Mebane
, where officials cautioned that
discolored water may occur
, though it remains safe to use. The neighboring
Town of Hillsborough
has
lifted its boil water advisory
but continues to urge residents to
conserve water
as repairs proceed.
Hillsborough officials
also reported
sewer overflows into the Eno River
, with the aging pump station currently running on
temporary bypass pumps
. Residents have been strongly advised
not to flush wipes, paper towels, or hygiene products
, which could cause clogs and further overflows.
Millions of Gallons of Wastewater Spill into Eno River
Durham Water Management
confirmed that approximately
6.8 million gallons of wastewater
spilled into the Eno River after a
flooded lift station
failed earlier in the week. These lift stations are critical for
pumping wastewater
from low-lying areas to treatment facilities, and this marks the
first time
such a flood has impacted the station.
Federal funding cuts
have further slowed recovery efforts. Hillsborough was set to receive
two federal grants
to relocate and upgrade its river pump station and create a system interconnection with
OWASA
(Orange Water and Sewer Authority, which serves Chapel Hill). However, that funding was recently rescinded.
How to Stay Safe and Prepare for What’s Next
With conditions remaining unstable, residents are urged to
sign up for flood alerts
via the
N.C. Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network
and review their household readiness plans using the
ReadyNC resource
.
As the
climate warms
, experts warn that
severe weather events
like this will become more common in the Carolinas. Local officials say the increasing frequency and intensity of storms place a significant burden on
aging infrastructure
and limited budgets.
Have you experienced flooding or water issues in your community? Share your story or tips for storm recovery by contacting us at
SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com
.
