One year after Hurricane Matthew, Lumberton residents cope with destroyed homes, uprooted lives

"Photographs of our parents, photographs of us growing up as kids. My many trips to Disney World,” Maynor said. “All those mementos (are) gone."

Water from the Lumber River filled the pond in front of her home of 50 years on LaClaire Road, and four feet of it ended up in the house.

She and her brother, who is blind and partially paralyzed, where rescued by boat. She lost two vehicles and her house has been condemned.

"The foundation of the home has fell in, according to a contractor who came out," Maynor said. "And it's just structurally not sound."

During the peak of the storm, Maynor was one of more than 1,800 people forced into shelters, authorities have said. There were also more than 650 families staying in motels.

Sharon Pierce was one of them.

"It's been really hard," she said. "Especially staying here with five kids in one room. If we were home it would be different, we can cook, the kids can have outside time."

Pierce lived in that room with her five children for eight months before finding a mobile home. Hurricane Matthew resulted in a huge caused a huge shortage of affordable housing in the area.

"Four feet of water filled the buildings here at First Baptist in Lumberton,” Pierce said. “It took them 11 months to rebuild, but finally residents are going back home."

Lola Smith stayed with family until her apartment here at First Baptist Homes was refurbished.

'We thank everybody for everything they did for us, because without them, where would we be? Homeless with no place to go," Lola Smith said.

"These pictures here, my sister-in-law was able to take them down and clean them and saved them for us to put up in our house," she said.

Maynor and her brother also found a new home. She told the realtor, there were only two requirements.

"That I didn't want any property located in a flood zone or near any water," Maynor said.

The storm also washed out Maynor's retirement plans. Her house that was condemned was paid for. Now she has a new house and a new mortgage.

She and her brother said still have each other and both are thankful to be alive.