Devastating Flooding Strikes Durham and Chapel Hill, Dozens Rescued Overnight
What unfolded across parts of North Carolina overnight into Monday morning was nothing short of terrifying. Relentless rain from Tropical Depression Chantal led to severe flash flooding in Durham and Orange counties, leaving dozens of families scrambling for safety and prompting a full-scale emergency response.
In Durham County, it was the Eno River that turned dangerously aggressive. By the early hours of Monday, the river had overflowed, flooding neighborhoods and apartment complexes. Water surged into homes so quickly that many residents barely had time to react. Regina Mitchell, one of the many rescued by boat, recalled thinking at first it was a plumbing issue. "We thought it was something in the house that had broken," she said. "Then we opened the door and realized it was coming in from every direction."
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Floodwaters reached chest level in some homes. Cars were seen floating along Rippling Stream Road. Families woke up to the sound of rushing water and were stunned to see driveways and streets transformed into rivers. One resident, Ahmad Hefez, described waking up in the middle of the night with his wife and four kids. “We suddenly opened the window and saw all the driveways flooded with water,” he said. They were lucky to escape to higher ground by 1:30 a.m. But his concern wasn’t just the flooding—it was the complete lack of warning. “Nobody warned us. We just woke up and, thank God, had time to get out.”
Meanwhile, just west in Chapel Hill, flash flooding turned night into chaos. Alerts were sent out as the Bolin Creek swelled, overwhelming parts of the Camelot Village community and surrounding neighborhoods. First responders evacuated more than 60 residents as floodwaters rose around apartment complexes like 900 Willow and Airport Gardens. Even commercial areas like Eastgate Mall weren’t spared—images show submerged cars and standing water inside businesses.
Road closures swept through the town, including major arteries like Franklin Street, Estes Drive, and Fordham Boulevard. Emergency alerts continued throughout the night, warning residents to avoid travel and seek high ground.
These communities are no strangers to heavy rain, but the scale and speed of this flooding caught everyone off guard. This wasn’t just a storm—it was a wake-up call. And while no widespread evacuation order has been issued yet, local leaders and emergency crews continue working around the clock to assess the damage, provide shelter, and keep people safe.
As always, avoid floodwaters, never drive through submerged roads, and stay alert to weather updates. In moments like these, quick decisions can save lives.
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