Community begins cleanup as Moore County recovers from Tropical Storm Debby's aftermath

Moore County residents are beginning to return home as floodwaters from Tropical Storm Debby downsize.

Swift water rescue teams were busy over the past few days, evacuating several people from flooded areas.

Two days after Tropical Storm Debby struck the Carolinas, its effects are still evident.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation reports that more than 160 roads remain blocked due to the storm. Among them is Creek Bend Drive, where the water is still waist-deep.

For Billy Jude, returning home has been particularly challenging.

“I just bought a camper a few days ago,” Jude said.

He lives on Riverview Drive, where his property usually sits near the Little River.

However after the storm, he found himself right in the middle of it. “I underestimated the power of Mother Nature,” Jude said.

Both the Riverview and Riverbend communities were placed under a voluntary evacuation order starting Thursday afternoon.

Some residents left on their own, while others, including a man in a pickup truck, a mother with her child, and Jude himself, had to be rescued.

“It’s scary. I mean, driving away, I didn’t know if anything would be here when I got back,” Jude said.

Just over 24 hours later, he returned to find his driveway still flooded, his RV submerged, and his camper flipped over.

“I guess the current got it and flipped it over,” he said.

But what hurts the most isn’t what the flood took—it’s what thieves did.

“What I lost, I lost to thieves,” Jude said. After he was evacuated, thieves stole his four-wheeler, attempted to break into his home, and damaged his motorcycle.

“I don’t know what they were doing, but they disconnected the battery,” he said.

As the cleanup began on Friday, Jude expressed gratitude—thankful that his home was still standing and for the first responders who ensured his safety.

“Material things come and go, but your life is something you can’t get back or pay for,” Jude said.