RALEIGH, N.C.
— North Carolina officials have begun assessing widespread damage left behind by
Tropical Storm Chantal
, which soaked the state with more than
10 inches of rain
in some areas and triggered a wave of
flash flooding and infrastructure failures
across several counties.
On Thursday,
Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency
to accelerate recovery aid and formalize the response to the storm’s destruction.
Severe Flooding Hits Infrastructure Hard
Justin Graney, Chief of External Affairs for
North Carolina Emergency Management
, said multiple key facilities sustained damage:
-
Wastewater and water treatment plants
were impacted -
Roadways
became impassable in several counties -
Swift water rescue teams
were deployed to assist stranded residents
Rivers such as the
Haw
,
Eno
, and
Jordan Lake
reached
record or near-record levels
, putting communities downstream at greater risk of prolonged damage and future rainfall complications.
Damage Estimates in the Millions
Early estimates from local municipalities like
Chapel Hill
indicate
millions of dollars in losses
, with assessments still ongoing. Graney emphasized that
continued thunderstorms
are complicating the process.
“We keep having thunderstorms every day,” Graney said. “Flash flooding continues to occur in areas like Burlington, which slows down the damage assessment.”
State and Federal Aid Could Follow
Graney explained that
damage assessments are critical
for determining eligibility for
state and federal recovery funds
.
“It informs decisions about which programs get activated based on legal thresholds,” he said. “It also helps determine if we qualify for a federally declared disaster.”
Once the data is compiled, the governor may request federal aid through FEMA, unlocking resources for individuals and municipalities affected by the storm.
Recovery Resources Available
North Carolina’s emergency portal has activated a range of support options for residents dealing with storm-related impacts. These include:
-
Guidance for
filing damage reports
-
Access to
temporary housing
-
Public assistance for
municipalities and utilities
More details and help resources are available through the
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
.
Have you or your town been impacted by Tropical Storm Chantal? Share your story or recovery efforts in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
