SAXAPAHAW, N.C. (WGHP) – One year after the Haw River crested more than 30 feet with the downpour of rain from Tropical Storm Chantal, the river is low given the drought, but some buildings on the banks are still far from fully recovered.
People in the area say that while the damage was swift, recovery is a slow and ongoing process.
Ben Clarke, Guided Trip Coordinator at Haw River Canoe and Kayak, says . Their offices, on the first floor of the building on the banks, were flooded to the ceiling, and remain gutted one year later. They are operating out of the Boy Scouts building upriver.
“One of the surprisingly toughest things we’ve had to deal with is getting people to go to the right place because people are so used to coming here. Summer camp actually was the first thing that we got started again after the flood, and because of the generosity of our community, and especially the Boy Scouts,” Clarke said.
He is grateful that their business returned to operating within a few weeks, but their still empty offices are a reminder of what they lost.
“When it rains really hard and I hear that sound, I still kind of remember that day we were right here in the building and it was just raining so hard, and we were so tired, and we were so wet, and we were so confused about what was happening, and then the nightmare the next day, like it’s still a little traumatic, honestly,” Clarke said.
One year later, they are working to build new offices upriver near their temporary building. The deck base is built and they are hoping to have official offices by the end of July.
The tubing and boating owners know they are not alone in difficult recovery. preschool is open again. Pastor Mandy Sayers says their church should be ready for worship next month.
“It’s hard to even put into words. I mean, I picture two and a half feet of water where we are standing right now, and then to see now fresh paint, new flooring, and to see arts and crafts of preschoolers all around us. Really, it’s night and day,” Sayers said.
Sayers had just moved to the church to be new pastor and celebrated one service in the sanctuary before the flood. Since then, they have been grateful to a United Methodist sister church down the road who is sharing their space for services.
“Worship on Sunday was obviously very meaningful for our congregation to look back, to remember, and to give thanks for the way that God has really provided in the past year. It’s absolutely front of mind, I think not just for me, for the church family, and indeed our whole community. I think it’s really a sacred time, and a time to give thanks and celebrate how far we’ve come,” Sayers said.
Sayers says their church is aiming to host a community celebration in September, inviting people to visit the church when it re-opens and share in the success of recovery.
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Those impacted by the flooding say the generosity of the community, donating time, money, materials, and supporting businesses and fundraisers means the world to them as they continue to navigate the long-lasting effects of the storm.
The Haw River Ballroom is hosting what they are calling the . It’s a free event to get the community together again in the place they first gathered one year ago to plan their path forward, to celebrate how far they have come together.
“I’m really excited to talk with other folks about their recovery process,” Clarke said.