Governor Josh Stein visited Alamance and Orange Counties to assess the damage caused by Tropical Storm Chantal. During his visit, he expressed gratitude to first responders for their efforts in ensuring public safety across the region. One of the key areas he inspected was the Lake Michael Dam, which faced a risk of failure due to rising water levels on Sunday. Emergency responders successfully evacuated the surrounding area.
“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.”
States of Emergency are still in effect for Alamance, Moore, Orange, and Person Counties, with two local emergency operations centers activated. Efforts are underway to restore power, utilities, and road access. The NC DOT reopened several major roads on Monday, including I-40/85 in Alamance County. However, 65 roads remain closed due to weather conditions. Residents are advised to exercise caution near creeks and low-lying roads because of 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,” said 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.”
Director Will Ray of North Carolina Emergency Management stated, “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.” He also reminded residents: “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. Local government websites and news outlets provide updates on repairs and safety advisories.
North Carolina Emergency Management officials offered several safety tips during flood events: listen to local weather forecasts; enable emergency alerts on cell phones; respect barricades; avoid driving through flooded areas; never walk through moving water; use fiman.nc.gov for flood gauge alerts.
