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Charlotte-Mecklenburg storm water services, emergency management discuss hurricane season
“Now every time this floods, it floods the ecological sanctuary and not homes,” John Wendel with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water said.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Inland flooding may not always be synonymous with hurricane season in many people’s minds but should be if you live in the Carolinas, officials from both the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County agencies reminded Wednesday.
Chantilly Ecological Sanctuary Pond is just off Briar Creek and the site is one of the most flood-prone areas in Mecklenburg County. Two groups of apartment homes used to stand there but after both flooded multiple times, most recently during 2008’s Tropical Storm Fay, a government-funded program bought and demolished the homes.
John Wendel, Senior Communication Specialist with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services, said the county removed about 350 apartment units.
“And now every time this floods, it floods the ecological sanctuary and not homes,” he said. “So that’s one of the positive things we do here. But flooding, inland flooding is very important when we talk about tropical systems.
According to Wendel, flood deaths are the number two killer in tropical systems, and more than 50% of deaths occur in cars.
“You really don’t know what’s under that water. There could be tree limbs, there could be power lines, and there could be holes that you just don’t see,” he said. “And so when you hear the stats about the number of people dying from flooding inland, away from the coast during tropical systems, it’s really important to get that message out.”
With so many new people moving to the Charlotte area, officials encourage new residents and homeowners to do an insurance check-up.
Even if you aren’t in a floodplain, flood insurance may be a good option. Flood insurance takes 30 days to take effect. Buyers are reminded to buy the policies now, well ahead of hurricane season.
You can also prepare your home with an emergency kit, which should contain water, non-perishable foods, flashlights, batteries, medications, and pet supplies.
You should also have a communication plan in place to contact family or friends in case of an emergency. This may include sending messages before a storm hits, purchasing an Internet hot spot, portable chargers, or an NOAA weather radio.
Contact Brittany Van Voorhees at bvanvoorhe@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.