Floods forced NC families to move. Kannapolis wants to stop people from living there again
Damaging floods ran through Kannapolis’ Tiffany Drive neighborhood on June 20. It may never be the same.
The street was subject to heavy rainfall last month and flooding on Irish Buffalo Creek that damaged family homes and left about 30 residents in the area in need of evacuation. The homes — mostly pre-1980 mobile homes — suffered flooding to the undercarriage as well as inside of some of the homes. There was damage to utility structures such as electrical boxes, too. Dozens of people were displaced.
The Concord and Kannapolis area saw about 2 inches of rain on June 20 and an additional 1.2 inches on June 21, according to the National Weather Service.
The city of Kannapolis now says it will try to permanently vacate the land people once called home because it’s in a 100-year floodplain.
“This area has flooded before but not to this extent. They (residents) are resilient and want the best for themselves and their families but understandably we’re concerned regarding the damage to their homes,” Kannapolis spokesperson Annette Privette Keller said.
The property’s future ultimately is up to its owner, and the city didn’t say how it would ensure no one lives on the land. City staff will work with the property owner about enforcement of ordinances on the floodplain, Privette Keller said.
The effects of the June flood and where it happened are cause enough to move families out, Kannapolis officials said.
“This flooding event has reminded us of how devastating a flooding event can be. We were fortunate residents were quickly rescued and not injured,” Kannapolis Fire Chief Tracy Winecoff said in a news release.
Disaster declaration attempt
As part of its attempt to vacate the land, Kannapolis unsuccessfully tried to obtain a disaster declaration for the flooded area.
The North Carolina Emergency Management Preliminary Disaster Assessment Team evaluated the homes and found that 19 sustained “major damage.” To receive a disaster declaration, Kannapolis needed 25 homes with “major damage.”
For now, the city is working with nonprofits to assess residents’ short and long-term needs, including a place to stay.
The two nonprofit organizations assisting are the Red Cross and Camino. They’ve completed door-to-door canvases with city and county officials to speak to the families.
A shelter was put in place at Fred L. Wilson Elementary school to look after the health of the victims. Two families used the shelter, a news release said.
The city is looking for private, public or religious organizations to help in the recovery effort. People who want to help can contact Kannapolis Economic and Community Development Director Irene Sacks at isacks@kannapolisnc.gov or text Lincoln Quiroz with Camino at 704-728-6681.
This story was originally published July 5, 2023 at 2:52 PM.
