RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A fifth North Carolina death was linked Tuesday to massive flooding that still had 65 roads closed two days after remnants from Tropical Storm Chantal spawned four tornadoes, and dumped more than 10 inches of rain just west Wake County, forcing at least 200 rescues in the hardest hit areas.
Leaders in a town in Moore County, under a steady torrent of rain as the storm stalled and then pivoted northward Sunday afternoon, called the deluge a 500- to 1,000-year flood event.
Southern Pines was hit with nearly half a billion gallons in just hours on Sunday, knocking down a dam and a retaining wall that led to businesses flooding.
North Carolina rainfall totals from Chantal — info from 80+ sites
“Tropical Storm Chantal brought an extraordinary amount of rainfall in a very short time,” Southern Pines Mayor Taylor Clement said in a news release. “This was one of the most intense weather events Moore County has seen.”
Just after the storm barreled north over Chatham, Alamance, Orange, Durham and Person counties, more than 120 roads in the state were closed by flooding or being washed out. Even Interstate 40/85 was closed by flooding late Sunday…