Seven Springs mayor: 'We are by no means done'

In response to flooding that swept through his small town this week in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, Stephen Potter, mayor of Seven Springs, told WRAL News he expects most residents will rebuild.

"We are by no means done," Potter said. "This is a setback for sure, but I see it as a delay, not a death knell for Seven Springs."

Potter took issue with the evaluation a day earlier of resident Chuck Stancil, who said this storm, on top of the flooding less than two years ago of Hurricane Matthew, may prompt his neighbors not to return.

"Matthew was catastrophic. Floyd was disaster. Now this is devastating," Stancil said.

"This is going to be devastating for Seven Springs, depending on how many people come back and whether this town will stay."

Potter estimated the Seven Springs population pre-Florence at about 60 people.

"I can assure you again that we have enough fund balance to survive," Potter said. "We have just added some new challenges."