Digital Scholarship and Initiatives

Hurricane Matthew dumped as much as 19 inches of rain into the creeks and river of Robeson County. "The Lower Little River at Spring Lake crested 25 feet above normal. The Lumber crept up to 12 feet above flood stage, also a record. And the Cape Fear in Fayetteville reached a flood stage of 58 feet, the highest since the Jordan Lake dam was built in 1974 to control flooding” (para. 6). More than 1000 people were displaced. More than 100,000 homes were abandoned and more than 19,000 businesses were damaged or ruined. Total losses are estimated at $4.8 billion.

 A year later, Matthew is still affecting North Carolina. Homes are still abandoned. People are paying mortgages on homes deemed unlivable. The most serious flooding was in Robeson County due to the Lumber River, which rose 24 feet. Repairs move as quickly as federal aide comes in. Aid has been slowed by areas of the world like Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico affected by hurricanes this year.