Late night rescue in Canterbury
Late night rescue in Canterbury

This piece was written by a collaboration of affected neighbors and volunteers on the ground

Chantal in the Triangle: neighbors you should help (Part 1 of ??)

Introduction

Tropical Storm Chantal hit the Triangle just over a week ago on Sunday the 6th, and while some of the impacts made the national news, many of our neighbors aren’t aware how intense the impacts are in residential neighborhoods less than 15 minutes from their own back yards. Today, we bring you ways to support your neighbors and stories from on the ground. Today’s post focuses on residential impacts. Future posts will focus on residents in Durham, and local businesses.

Rainfall totals. Carrboro got over 9 inches. Areas in Durham had 10 inches fall.

How You Can Help

You can find GoFundMe links for individual neighborhoods in the stories below, and we encourage you to read and see which neighborhoods are closest to where you live, but if you want just one place to go to offer help, use one of these right now and then come back for the stories:

  1. The intentionally informal and non-heirarchical Triangle Mutual Aid, which pays individuals directly.
  2. The Orange County NC Chantal Fund page.
  3. Help with your time and effort: A lot of volunteers, activated through Triangle Mutual Aid have been in the neighborhoods from day one. Helping remove water sodden possessions from homes. Providing water, food to the affected. Cleaning out garages, and so many other tasks. If you have time to spare, a lot more effort is needed. At this moment, there is an especially strong need at Camelot. You can get involved through the Triangle Mutual Aid page.

Personal Stories from Affected Neighbors Near You

Anonymous from Kingswood Apartments in Carrboro writes:

“We noticed it first in our office. The water seeped through the floor and pooled around our desk and soaked through the wood. I can still recall my husband’s frantic shouting as he scrambled to grab all of the towels in the apartment to try and stop its incoming path. I tried calling the emergency maintenance number, but had been unaware of the situation just down the hill where neighbors were attempting to break down their doors to try and save their sleeping loved ones from drowning in their own homes. The non-emergency police department had closed for the day and were likely occupied with the countless amount of distress calls that were made simultaneously to mine. I remember the fear in my husband’s voice, the quivering of my own, our banging on the neighbors’ door. The despair in my husband’s grip as he grabbed our shovel and began digging a tunnel around our apartment in a desperate attempt to redirect the water away from continuing to saturate the furniture that had only just been gifted to us by my parents. The disorder of the water sloshing at our feet as we rushed to collect all of our important documents. We sat in bone-chilling silence as my husband drove us through the nonstop downpour and surging of water at 20 miles an hour to stay with my parents in Greensboro.”

Damaged door in Kingswood, showing the advance of flood waters
Damaged door in Kingswood, showing the advance of flood waters

Elizabeth Moreton, Canterbury Townhomes

“Initially, all I was thinking about was whether or not the water would spill over the top of my cement patio slab. It comes close during every big rain storm. I just happened to notice the water rising against my neighbor’s tires. A neighbor and I got in touch to have them move their cars across the street. I found myself out there with a shovel, trying to scrape the leaves and debris out of the storm drain so the water wouldn’t start flowing over the curb and down to their door. It worked, and I was so proud. A few doors down, another storm drain was clogged so I confidently strolled over there and tried to clear it, but this time, no matter what I did, the water kept rising.

An affected resident working to rescue items from a Canterbury living room
An affected resident working to rescue items from a Canterbury living room

Then it started coming around the house from the flooded field. I glanced back and the corner of the lot I had just cleared was full of water again, and more. When the water reached the bottom of the cars, I gave up and started ringing doorbells, asking neighbors to move their cars across to the higher side of the street. I kept hoping if I shoveled more, if I found a bigger tool to push the water away, maybe it would clear. I knew two young women who lived across from me had pets, so I ran inside to help. “What do I do? Why is this happening? I don’t want to leave my house!”- I tried my best to stay calm and direct them as one of the women couldn’t help but panic, all the while silently texting another neighbor to check on my house and my dog. “We just need to get out first, and worry about anything else later. Do you have ID and valuables you need to take? Where are the cat carriers? Do you have anything else you have to have with you?”

Flooded parking lot in Canterbury on Sunday night
Flooded parking lot in Canterbury on Sunday night

When I opened the second floor window, a firefighter was in waist deep water in the parking lot. “It’s okay, I’m a good swimmer,” I reassured myself despite the rising fear, “I’ve been swimming all my life.” He came in to help calm the panicking woman while I took two cat carriers out, followed closely by the roommate with the third cat and her possessions. By that time, cars were up on the sidewalk, on front lawns, anywhere that seemed like higher ground. Once I got her and the 3 cats into my house, I went back out there looking for anyone else who needed help. When the panicked roommate and the firefighter finally emerged from the building, the water was even higher. I took her bags from the firefighter and took hold of her arm and helped her cross through the chest-high waters to safety.

Canterbury Parking Lot
Canterbury Parking Lot

Even my unit wasn’t guaranteed to be safe for us; we could only hope it was. I couldn’t breathe until the rain had stopped and I saw the waters beginning to recede. We had 28 houses flood that night. The next day, I woke up with the sun and got to work checking on my neighbors and trying to do whatever I could to help them, and I’ve barely stopped since. These people are my friends, I see them everyday, and they’ve lost almost everything. How could I not?”

In Canterbury, Weatherhill, Camelot and all the affected communities in the area. People were removing all of their possessions from their homes.
In Canterbury, Weatherhill, Camelot and all the affected communities in the area. People were removing all of their possessions from their homes.
All over the affected area, cars were destroyed by flood waters. Cars that have been flooded cannot be repaired. They are a complete write-off
All over the affected area, cars were destroyed by flood waters. Cars that have been flooded cannot be repaired. They are a complete write-off
Back porch of a Weatherhill home affected by Chantal flooding from Morgan Creek
Back porch of a Weatherhill home affected by Chantal flooding from Morgan Creek

Conclusion

Lessons learned by folks responding to Helene were impressively and rapidly mobilized under the banner of Triangle Mutual Aid in a way that has been eye opening and sustaining for many of our neighbors. People coordinated on the ground in neighborhoods connecting people to online local resources, sharing QR codes to spreadsheets and docs, and most importantly lending their hands, their respirators, and their boots to the task of clearing the muck out of people’s homes.

We’ve also seen town staff and emergency responders going above and beyond, with elected officials also distributing supplies, talking people to get support, and even getting their hands dirty removing wet insulation.

Chantal has brought trauma and tragedy, but neighbors are helping each other, and you can help today, too.

Please click here if you want to donate directly to individuals, or click here if you want to give money to Orange County for relief efforts.

Personal funding pages

This is only the pages we currently know about. We are sure there are a lot more. Let us know if you are aware others.

John Rees lives in Chapel Hill. He was, until recently, a member of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission and former chair. He has served on the board of the Bicycle Alliance of Chapel Hill, and is also...