Heavy rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal shut down many roads and highways and caused dozens of people in North Carolina to flee their homes.
One person in Mebane has died as a result of the flooding. Alamance County Attorney Rik Stevens says 61 people have been rescued since the flooding began. He says most of them approached watery areas and couldn’t get out.
Mebane officials say the rains flooded the Graham-Mebane Water Treatment Plant. The system cannot operate at normal levels. They are asking all residents to limit their water usage to zero if possible for the rest of the day.
In Alamance County, the Haw River crested at a near-record 32.5 feet overnight.
At one point Monday morning, more than 7,000 people were without power in Alamance. But as of 2 p.m., Duke Energy officials report the number is down to fewer than 20.
In Orange County, the possibility that Lake Michael Dam could fail prompted officials to issue a voluntary evacuation for areas downstream.
Officials say currently, water on the roadways is receding, and there are only a few hotspots where roads are closed in Alamance.
Drivers are advised to turn around instead of trying to pass through flooded roads. People should also stay away from river and stream banks and culverts as they may become unstable.