City of Whiteville receives nearly $1.2 million in funding to address frequent flooding

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — In Columbus County, the City of Whiteville is getting funding from the Golden Leaf Foundation’s $25 million Flood Mitigation Program to fix a recurring problem. 

The City of Whiteville has been awarded nearly $1.2 million to address frequent flooding on E. Main and S. Canal Streets. 

Whiteville Mayor Terry Mann said this is a small step in resolving a big issue.

“That’s going to increase the size of piping, running out of town on the east side, which hopefully will reduce the flooding effect over on that side of town. That’s actually the first project that we’ve done on the east side of town. We’ve done several projects west of Madison St., but this is actually the first project on the east side of town,” Mann said. 

There are several houses and businesses within the known “problem” areas, along with the city’s Public Works building. Campbell’s Barber & Beauty Salon is one of the businesses affected by flooding. Barber Jermaine Fleming said he’s hoping this funding will keep it from happening again.

“Trying to fix it is good because it’s really, really been a struggle with the flooding over here,” Fleming said. 

He said it’s not just hurricanes or tropical storms that pose a flooding threat.

“Heavy rain? Man, you have to go the opposite way. It’s really stopping my business. It will help, it’ll help tremendously,” Fleming said.

Mayor Mann said the funding is not a one-and-done solution, but it is a start in solving a decades-long problem.

“There’s a lot of factors that are influencing this and the process is bit by bit. Try to do what you can to chizzle away at the problem,” Mann said.

Columbus is one of eight counties that will receive funding as part of this Flood Mitigation Program.

Mayor Mann said some preliminary work is already taking place on the east side of the city, but it will likely be four-to-five months before the project is officially underway.