LUMBERTON, N.C. — North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality is funding projects to reduce flood risks at locations across the state.

What You Need To Know

  • North Carolina has endured major flooding from hurricanes

  • DEQ is funding 15 projects all over the state to lessen that risk

  • Besides in Lumberton, other sites include Durham, Hendersonville, Canton and two water farming projects at N.C. State

Flooding from hurricanes has been especially severe in the last decade.

In Robeson County, Lumberton was devastated by two hurricanes in 2016 and 2018.

Donald Kinlaw has lived there for 48 years. His Mayfair neighborhood had several feet of flooding from both Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. In 2016, things were so treacherous from the high water from the nearby Lumber River, Kinlaw and his family had to be rescued. The situation became so difficult that even their rescuers had to be helped.

“The fire truck hit my mailbox," Kinlaw said. “And he got stuck in my neighbor's yard. And he tried to drain some water out of the water tank to make the load lighter and that didn’t work. So, he had to call somebody.”

The DEQ funding projects are a joint venture with the North Carolina Land and Water Fund. It’ll provide millions of dollars for 15 projects throughout the state for flood protection.

In Lumberton, that would happen along the Lumberton Loop, near the former Fuller’s restaurant location. That site was flooded by Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Right across the street from there is the Mayfair neighborhood where Kinlaw lives.

“I think we need to do something,” he said.

He said that even though he’s been hit twice by floodwaters, he’s lucky. The year before Matthew hit, he purchased flood insurance, so the damage to his home was covered. And in spite of everything, Kinlaw said he’s not going anywhere.

“This is home for us,” he said.