State of emergency declared in Orange County after Chantal brings flash floods
Orange County declared a state of emergency Sunday night after Tropical Storm Chantal’s rains caused flash flooding throughout the county.
The state of emergency was announced about 10:45 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the county’s emergency services department.
“Numerous water rescues and evacuations are underway in low-lying areas,” the post said. “Additional rainfall is expected overnight, which will worsen flooding.”
Those evacuations included several units in Camelot Village on South Estes Drive, which were in the process of being evacuated about 9 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release from the town of Chapel Hill.
“Town staff and Orange County partners are coordinating immediate transportation and shelter for affected residents, who should follow the direction of first responders at the scene,” the release said.
Multiple locations in Chapel Hill were closed Sunday evening because of flash flooding, according to the town’s website, including:
- 1800 E. Franklin St.
- Hillsborough Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Bolinwood Drive
- The 200 block of South Estes Drive
- The 200 block of South Elliott Road
- Estes Drive at Library Drive
- Fordham Boulevard at Elliott Road, Cleland Drive and Brandon Road
- Raleigh Road between Country Club and Greenwood roads
- 500 block of Umstead Drive
Raleigh Road at Country Club Road was also closed Sunday evening by downed trees, the town’s website stated.
The National Weather Service estimated 4 to 8 inches of rain had fallen in Orange County as of 10:32 p.m., according to its website.
“Numerous water rescues have occurred this evening and some homes flooded,” the weather service wrote. “Please do not travel unless absolutely necessary.”
The county remained under a flash flood warning until at least 2 a.m. Monday. That warning also applied to parts of Durham, Alamance, Chatham and Randolph counties, according to the National Weather Service.
Morgan Creek near Chapel Hill was above the flood stage as of Sunday night, data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website shows. The creek was estimated to have reached 15.7 feet as of 9:45 p.m., past its flood stage of 11 feet.
The Eno River was also past its 12-foot flood stage as of Sunday night, with an observed height at 10:15 p.m. of 15.47 feet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In Chatham County, the storm caused more than 100 flooded roads, and N.C. Highway 302 near Chatham Central Road collapsed, according to a Facebook post from the Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson.
As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Moore County had received the most rain in the state, with 3 to 6 inches of rain falling from “western Chatham County south through western Hoke and northern Scotland counties,” according to the National Weather Service’s latest update.
Steady, heavy rains were expected to continue Sunday overnight from Chatham County northward across Alamance, Orange and Durham counties and as far north as the Virginia border, the update states.
The storm made landfall in coastal South Carolina early Sunday, the National Weather Service reported. The storm is projected to move further inland throughout Sunday.
Since landfall, the storm has lost strength, with maximum sustained winds dropping to near 50 mph with possible higher gusts, according to the update. Meteorologists anticipate the storm will further weaken.
North Carolina residents can expect heavy rainfall with isolated flooding through early Monday, the weather service said. The Piedmont area will face the heaviest rains, with the highest totals projected to hit west of Raleigh and Fayetteville, according to the update. Those locations could see up to 4 inches.
Isolated tornadoes are also a possibility, particularly south and east of Southern Pines, Raleigh and Rocky Mount, the update said. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between Sunday morning and late Sunday evening. Wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph, and some scattered gusts over 40 mph, could be seen along the coastal plain near Clinton and Goldsboro.
The entire Triangle is under a flood watch until 6 a.m. Monday, the weather service said. Raleigh is expected to see between 1 and 1.5 inches of rainfall from 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Wednesday.
This story was originally published July 6, 2025 at 9:57 AM with the headline "State of emergency declared in Orange County after Chantal brings flash floods."
