A massive sinkhole in Harnett County, resulting from severe flooding due to Tropical Storm Debby, left several residents unable to enter or exit their neighborhood on Friday afternoon.
The sinkhole formed on the sole road leading to the Keith Hills Country Club neighborhood in Lillington, close to Campbell University, leaving residents stranded within the golf course community.
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"Usually it comes from the Cape Fear River from houses along it," said Linwood Smith, a neighbor, referring to the flooding.
Residents on Keith Hills Road resorted to using golf carts to get in and out of the area.
Melissa, another resident, compared the situation to the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
"I didn't live here then, but the water came up to the garage doors," she said. "There's typically about a 20-foot drop in my yard."
Melissa expressed some concern but said, "You can see there's still a bit of room for it to rise. I'm not too worried about it coming into the yard or the house, but it’s still a little concerning."
Emergency services responded swiftly, going door-to-door and issuing a reverse 911 alert to keep residents updated.
"My daughter had volleyball practice, so I was trying to get her there, but we couldn’t leave," Melissa said.
To fix the sinkhole, repair crews are installing steel plating and filling the eroded area with rock, stone, dirt, and concrete.
Hours later, traffic resumed in one lane due to a temporary fix, and crews are planning to implement a permanent solution by Tuesday.
According to Harnett County EMS, they are maintaining regular contact with residents to ensure their needs are being met and access is restored as swiftly as possible, keeping everyone involved and reassured.