Overcoming the Storm - August 6, 2025
- Marilyn Carter
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Yesterday, a state disaster declaration was issued that enables individual assistance for residents in Orange County and other central North Carolina counties whose homes and belongings were damaged in Tropical Storm Chantal.
If you or someone you know in Orange County needs assistance, visit the Disaster Recovery Assistance Center at the Drakeford Library Complex in Carrboro.
Applications for state grants for temporary assistance—including housing, property replacement, and medical costs will be available.
More info: www.ReadyOrange.org
The US Small Business Administration is also offering low-interest loans to homeowners and businesses.
Walk-in to the Drakeford or schedule an appointment:
A federal disaster declaration is still pending at time of writing.
THE ONSLAUGHT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE:
One month ago today, Orange County Emergency Management was monitoring Tropical Storm Chantal.
Limited impacts for central NC had been predicted earlier. At 5:45 am that morning, the National Weather Service indicated the storm's path had shifted west and revised their forecast to 1.5 - 2" of rain for Orange County.
The Orange County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated in virtual mode early that afternoon.
By late evening, while downgraded to a Tropical Depression, Chantal exploded in ferocity, unleashing an atmospheric river of as much as 10" of rain from the storm. Our first responders from the county and towns sprang into action.
By morning, they had fielded nearly 8,000 calls to 911 and deployed 70 water rescues from Chapel Hill to Carrboro to Hillsborough to Mebane and across rural Orange County.
Sadly, one person lost their life in the floodwaters that night in Orange County.
THE IMPACTS AND INITIAL RECOVERY:
Booker Creek in Chapel Hill flooded, devastating Eastgate Shopping Center, the main post office on Estes Drive and neighboring businesses. Residents from apartment complexes including Camelot Village, Weatherhill Point in Carrboro and others were displaced.
Photos: flooding in Eastgate Shopping Center, Chapel Hill - July 7, 2025
The Town of Carrboro lost emergency vehicles. In Hillsborough, the wastewater plant's pump station had flooded. In Mebane, the Graham-Mebane water treatment plant was severely impacted.
Orange County set up a bottled-water distribution site in Hillsborough at the Orange County Department of Social Services. This site served as a regional support point, helping residents from nearby communities—including Mebane—gain access to bottled water while the city's water system was disrupted |
Photos: The wastewater pump station in Hillsborough. The pictured brick building houses the pump station and marks the Chantal flood line. Pumps shown were submerged - August 4, 2025
All told thus far, 190 residents were displaced and 448 residential properties were impacted. Commercial property suffered over $20M in damage, and public property damage was over $28M.
Orange County implemented an emergency shelter through July 12 for those displaced, and subsequently, residents have relocated to transition housing with support from the county Department of Social Services, the Town of Chapel Hill, or both.
In spite of the damage, many tragedies were likely averted due to emergency preparedness and effective emergency response.
LAKE ORANGE DAM RESILIENCE - THE PRODUCT OF PLANNING |
On August 4, I joined the Orange County Emergency Management team as they hosted Congresswoman Valerie Foushee and several elected officials in touring the damage in the northern portion of our county.
This included visiting Lake Orange, which is an emergency water supply for our region. A County engineer who was monitoring the Lake Orange dam that night described how the storm stalled right over the lake with a deluge of rain, washing out a bridge.
He went on to say that the capital investment made by the County on a new spillway, finished in 2022, likely saved the dam from failure. He also talked about necessary work to implement a new gate to better control water flow on the dam.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP - AND PREPARE AHEAD OF THE NEXT STORM?
Protect your future with flood insurance:
Many impacted properties were NOT in a high-risk flood zone.
FINALLY - CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY'S RESILIENCE WITH UPROAR:
The Uproar Festival of Public Art has overcome flooding from Chantal and is underway - stronger than ever.
Use the free trolley that circulates through Chapel Hill and Carrboro to visit exhibits on Saturday August 9 & 16 - all the details here.
The County is now moving to implement a Long Term Recovery Team, and as the work continues to also learn from this experience, I am grateful to our state, county and local staffs and local elected officials for their professionalism and commitment to our community's well-being.
Until next time,
Orange County Commissioner
