Eleven inches of rain that fell since at least 4 this morning has caused severe damage, mainly in the Roanoke Rapids area.
Franklin Street, at 2nd Street was ripped open as water overtook storm drains, splitting the road like in an earthquake.
Chaloner Recreation was reported to be completely flooded and several houses sustained damage, although the exact number could not immediately be confirmed as officials are still assessing the damage.
Interstate 95 was shut down in Halifax and Northampton counties, forcing motorists to reroute through Roanoke Rapids.
T.J. Davis was opened as a shelter.
No injuries were reported although there were several close calls as firefighters and rescue squad members were called to pull stranded motorists from their vehicles.
Halifax County officials reported Roanoke Rapids continues to experience flooding. Sam Powell Dairy Road was also flooded and closed near Highway 48.
At Roanoke Rapids city hall, local and state officials set up a command center and opened T.J. Davis Recreation Center as a Red Cross Shelter.
Edith Pierce was staying at the shelter after her apartment at Creekside Court was flooded and after she got stranded while going to get a relative on Hinson Street. “I had just started driving when it carried me,” she said of the rushing water.
Rochelle Pond exceeded capacity.
She said the water almost carried her to the public works building. “I kept hollering for somebody to help me.”
A passing motorist helped her. “I’m just thankful I’m safe.”
City Manager Joseph Scherer said the city is still assessing the storm. “We’re out fixing broken lines. We had two lines break during the rain.”
The city has asked for a state of emergency declaration for cleanup and rehabilitation funding.
Roanoke Avenue approaching South Rosemary.
Chaloner Recreation Center was flooded, Scherer said, and the ceiling at Kirkwood Adams Community Center collapsed, keeping the city from using that building as a shelter.
Occurring two days shy of the anniversary of Hurricane Irene, Scherer said little could be done to prevent this. “This is an act of God. When you get hit with heavy rain like that the city’s infrastructure can’t handle that much rain.”
This kind of flooding, Mayor Emery Doughtie said, probably hasn’t been seen since Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
Scherer said he believed the city would have enough funds in capital improvement to get through the disaster.
At Henry Street Apartments, several people were taking out furniture and using wet vacuums to clean up. Several people declined comment.
Flooded items dry at Henry Street apartments.
Margaret Zazzaretti said she and her family escaped serious damage in their apartment but feared the flooding totaled her vehicle. Her neighbor’s ceiling fell in and floodwaters dislodged an air conditioning unit across the parking lot from her.
In Hodgestown around Highway 158 some of the worst flooding could be seen.
Dominion Power cut electrical service at Lloyd Harrison’s house off Highway 158. Until he could enter the house he had no idea what he could salvage.
This was the worst he had seen since Floyd. Even Floyd, he said, was not this bad. “It came up to about the highway but not this high.”
While Helen Carter got one vehicle another in her backyard was damaged. “I made it out just in time.”
Dominion crews discuss strategy in Hodgestown.
Sandra Garner made out better than some of her neighbors along Highway 158. “I was blessed on this,” she said.
Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton said, “We’re going around and assessing the damage to the streets and city and assessing the damage to homes and businesses.”
Asked how many homes and businesses may have been damaged, Hinton said, “We really don’t know right now. It’s too early. We’re just now making our rounds. We’re just happy there were no injuries.”
