People in Orange and Durham counties are cleaning up after Sunday and Monday morning’s powerful storms and are now bracing for even more severe weather overnight Wednesday.
Violet Covington told WRAL News she has lived on Felicia Street in Durham for nearly 40 years.
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Covington said Monday’s flood was the worse she's ever seen.
“We left with just what was on our backs,” Covington said. “It was horrible. It was nerve-wracking and just painful to see that.”
The homeowner recalled being woken up by a neighbor warning them to “get out” around 4:30 a.m. Monday, shortly before firefighters also urged them to evacuate.
Covington shared she and her husband were told when they first moved that their home wasn’t in a flood zone. Over the years, she said it was upgraded to a low-risk flood zone, and eventually a high-risk area.
Covington stated she and other homeowners have since been vocal about the dangers of not having a second way out with the increased flood risk.
“This is a one-way-in, one-way-out street. We have been fighting for years with the county to get an extension street put in so we could have a way out in an emergency,” Covington said. “Our concern was in case of an emergency, like what just happened.”
Walking through a neighbor’s yard to stand on a nearby street was their only escape from the rising flood waters on Monday, the couple shared.
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Cameron Dutton and his mother live in a rental further down the street. The 18-year-old shared he was the one who rushed to knock on neighbors' doors and call 911 when he realized the flooding was happening.
“It was traumatizing,” he told WRAL News. “It was up to my knees and just trying to tread through it.”
Dutton said he eventually left the home by boat.
Days later, he and Covington are among the many North Carolinians worried about safety hazards, including things they can’t see.
For North Carolinians experiencing flood damage, area health officials said it’s important to act fast to get ahead of silent dangers like mold.
“Being exposed to contaminated water can cause GI illness, rashes, and other infections,” said Victoria Hudson, the environmental health director of the Orange County Health Department.
Orange County’s director of Environmental Health went on to note people were surprised by the extent of the storms and urged them to take advantage of assistance programs that can help with faster cleanup.
“We’re here with our healthy homes program, and we’ll be willing to do some assessments and help people with the decision-making process,” Hudson said.
The CDC warns people should never attempt to enter flooded areas without first getting approval from authorities. Electrical lines, human and animal waste, spilled chemicals and other germs can all cause injury or illness after flooding, according to the health agency.
Debris left in front yards by residents cleaning out flooded rooms can also become safety hazards in the event the lawn floods again and items aren’t tethered down.