The town, university and organizations in Chapel Hill hosted a flood resource event on Thursday at Innovate Carolina Junction for businesses impacted by destructive flooding from Tropical Depression Chantal last week.
More than 5 feet of flood water left businesses like Restore Hyper Wellness and others in the East Gate Crossing picking up the pieces.
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“The entire store has been destroyed,” said Meri Clark, owner of Restore Hyper Wellness. “All the equipment was lost, all of our inventory, electrical panels, everything.”
WRAL News spoke with some residents and business owners who are trying to recover just one day before Governor Josh Stein plans to visit the area.
"We have been made aware of about 35, 40 businesses that have been completely wiped out that don't have their products available anymore or don't have their space available," Sheryll Waddell, director of innovation hubs and engagement for Innovate Carolina at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said.
Clark said she and other businesses are getting help from the town of Chapel Hill and volunteers. But it’s not enough to “restore” all that was lost.
“We're just being told to wait for any sort of federal declarations that are made and they’re saying they're hopeful those are going to happen, but we don't have any guarantees,” she continued.
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Innovate Carolina, an organization that connects the community with UNC students, hosted the event to connect businesses that are offering support with those hit hard by flooding.
"We can provide a venue for the companies looking to provide support and the companies that were negatively impacted and need that support," Waddell said.
Dawn Proctor with Piedmont Portables told WRAL News she rushed from Winston-Salem after the storms to offer assistance.
“People are needing restrooms; people are needing dumpsters now,” Proctor said. “With everything that’s hit, that’s not necessarily the first thing you think of.”
Last week, the storm left many businesses at Eastgate Crossing in Chapel Hill boarded up. The parking lot was covered in mud, and cars were strewn throughout the lot, pushed against each other. Furniture was scattered.
On Tuesday, Chapel Hill officials shared how much repairs should cost for the businesses and residential properties damaged by the storm.
- Eastgate/Mariakakis Plaza/University Place - $17,000,000
- Parks & Recreation (mainly trail damage) - $5,876,500
- Camelot Village - $3,157,957
- Town Public Housing (S. Estes Dr. Ext. and Airport Gardens) - $500,000
Damage estimates at the shopping centers was initially to cost more than $6.5 million. The shopping centers suffered significant flood damage, with some residents telling WRAL News their businesses were a total loss.