MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Some homeowners near the Catawba River with homes damaged after Helene are not rebuilding. 

They are planning to sell their homes to Mecklenburg County as part of a voluntary floodplain buyout program, which has been in place since 1999.

This week the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution that would allocate $8.5 million in stormwater fees to buy or offer RetroFIT Floodproofing Program grants to floodproof homes impacted by Helene. 

Anna Davis has lived on Riverside Drive in Mecklenburg County on and off for 37 years.

“We love the water and everyone would tie up their floats together and drift down the river,” Davis said. 

She grew up here and returned to this community in 2015 after she and her husband bought a home.

“I loved it. Everybody here is like family. It’s a place where you feel safe. I wanted my kids to have the same childhood as I did,” Davis said. 

Davis lived with her husband and two kids in this area until Helene tore through this community back in September.

Her childhood home, where her mom lived, became unlivable. She said her mom raised the home in 2004 to make it FEMA compliant, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the damage.

“Even with being elevated 14 and a half feet in the air, she received almost 4 feet of water in the home,” Davis said. 

Her own home, which is located down the street, is also red-tagged after she said 6 feet of water got into the residence.

“It totaled the entire home, and we lost all contents,” Davis said.

The house had flood damage in 2019, but she said it was nothing to this extent.

“You're sad, you're mad, you're trying to figure out why something like this happens,” Davis said. 

She and her husband plan to sell their house to Mecklenburg County, as part of a voluntary floodplain buyout program, which turns properties into open space to reduce future flood losses.

“At this point, with the risk that we're at with the neighborhood, and the continued issues, and they're only getting worse and worse every time, every time they happen. When this happens, it feels like it's your only option,” Davis said. 

According to Mecklenburg County, the floodplain buyout program has prevented more than $50 million in flood losses and converted more than 475 properties to open space. This includes green trails, community gardens, reforested natural areas, stream and floodplain restoration, stormwater wetlands and retention and informal recreational areas.

Mecklenburg County estimates Helene affected 170 houses on the Catawba River floodplain, with 46 of them damaged to the point of no repair. 

“You’re kind of left in a moment of desperation, and it’s really your only option so we are thankful that it’s there,” Davis said. 

Davis said the sale will help her family start a new chapter. 

They are planning to buy a home elsewhere, but this time in a less favorable market than when they purchased their home nine years ago.

“You’re up against that scenario that you didn’t choose for yourself,” Davis said. 

Her mother is also planning to participate in the buyout program, selling her house that is steps away from the river. 

The price the county will pay for homes depends on flood insurance, extent of damage and if properties were carried away by floodwaters. 

If homeowners choose to pursue the RetroFIT grants instead, they will be for elevation or demolition only. 

Homeowners interested in buyouts should email jonathan.beller@mecknc.gov.

Those interested in the RetroFIT grants can submit application through the county website.