Today, Governor Josh Stein visited Alamance and Orange Counties to assess the damage caused by Tropical Storm Chantal. He also expressed gratitude to first responders for their efforts in ensuring safety throughout the region. During his visit, he inspected the Lake Michael Dam, which was at risk of failure as water levels rose on Sunday. Emergency responders managed to evacuate the surrounding area successfully.
“Our hearts go out to the families who lost a loved one during the storm. I am grateful to the local and state emergency responders who worked quickly to evacuate people and keep so many people safe,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As counties across central North Carolina continue to recover, we will be there to support them.”
Local States of Emergency are still active in Alamance, Moore, Orange, and Person Counties with two local emergency operations centers activated. Efforts are underway to restore power, utilities, and road access. On Monday, NC DOT reopened several major roads including I-40/85 in Alamance County. However, sixty-five roads remain closed due to weather conditions. Residents are advised to stay cautious near creeks and low-lying roads due to potential flooding and debris.
“This historic weather event caused flooding like we haven’t seen in several decades in the central part of the state,” stated Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins. “We are working as quickly as possible to assess and reopen roads as soon as water levels recede and our crews are safely able to do so.”
“The State Emergency Response Team remains in close coordination with our state and local partners as we collectively navigate and assess the impacts from Tropical Storm Chantal,” said Director Will Ray of North Carolina Emergency Management. “This is a reminder for all North Carolinians to be informed, have a plan, and have a disaster kit ready to go at home.”
For real-time travel information, residents can visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media platforms.
Residents should follow their local government updates via websites or social media channels while avoiding any closed areas where repair work is ongoing. Many local emergency management agencies offer public notification systems that residents can subscribe to for updates.
North Carolina Emergency Management officials recommend specific safety tips during flooding events: listen closely to weather forecasts since flash floods can occur suddenly; enable emergency alerts on cell phones for National Weather Service notifications; adhere strictly to barricades which ensure safety by finding alternative routes if encountered; avoid driving through flooded areas because just two feet of moving water may sweep vehicles away without accurately judging depth from inside a vehicle; refrain from walking through moving water since only six inches could knock someone down; access fiman.nc.gov for information on over 600 flood gauges across the state along with sign-up options for alerts nearest your home.
