Flood cleanup crews battle heat in Chapel Hill
SO FAR, CREWS HAVE REPAIRED,
REPLACED OR BUILD 17 SUPPORT
WALLS AND 11 DRAINAGE PIPES IN
THE AREA. A TROPICAL DEPRESSION
CHANTAL TURNED A CHAPEL HILL
SHOPPING CENTER INTO A LAKE
IN THE CLEANUP. CREWS NOW ARE
FIGHTING SCORCHING HEAT AS THEY
RIP OUT RUIN STOCK. THEIR
WRAL'S. LIZ MCLAUGHLIN SHOWS
THE DOUBLE BLOW TO WORKERS.
>> ON THE GROUND AT EAST GATE
CROSSING.
>> ALMOST EVERY STORE HERE WAS
INUNDATED WITH FLOOD WATER.
MANY WITHOUT AC AS CLEANUP.
CREWS TODAY ARE WORKING IN
SWELTERING TEMPERATURES WITH
THE HEAT INDEX CLIMBING TOWARDS
TRIPLE DIGITS.
>> SHOPPING CART NORMALLY
FILLED WITH GROCERIES ARE
RULING OUT SPOILED FOOD AND
WATER LOGGED DEBRIS PLAYS
DEFINITELY WAS A SHOCK. WHEN I
CAME HERE AND I SO
>> IN THIS AREA, HOW BAD IT
WAS IN HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS
CAUSED BY THE FLOODING.
>> SANDRA SANCHEZ IS ONE OF
DOZENS RACING TO REBUILD WHILE
THE MERCURY SKYROCKETS AND HE'S
DEFINITELY HAD IN THE HUMIDITY
IS IS DEFINITELY I'VE.
>> A LOT OF THINGS ARE SWEATING
RIGHT NOW. THE JULY IS THE PEAK
MONTH FOR HE DO LAST SUMMER.
4700 NORTH CAROLINIANS WENT TO
THE ER FOR HEAT RELATED
PROBLEMS. A 20% JUMP FROM THE
YEAR BEFORE TO MAKE SURE BOTH
WORKERS AND THEIR EMPLOYERS
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED
TO DO TO STAY SAFE FROM HEAT
ILLNESS BECAUSE HE'LL MISS IS
ABSOLUTELY PREVENTABLE. IN
NORTH CAROLINA LABOR
COMMISSIONER LUKE FARLEY IS
LAUNCHING A BEAT. THE HEAT
CAMPAIGN. HE SAYS THE PROGRAM
HAS ALREADY MAILED MORE THAN
1000 LETTERS TO OUTDOOR
EMPLOYERS INCLUDES AN APP THAT
SENDS REAL-TIME HEAT ALERTS.
CHECK
THE WEATHER.
>> UNDERSTAND THAT THE HEAT
INDEX IS GOING TO BE HIGHER
THAN JUST WHAT'S LIST IS THE
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. TAKE
BREAKS. REST, WATER AND SHADE.
>> CREWS HERE SAY THE MESSAGE
MATTERS, BUT SO DOES BACKING
IT UP ON THE JOB. WE HAVE
PLENTY OF COLD WATER IN THERE.
SO I'VE JUST BEEN PACING MYSELF
TRYING TO STAY HYDRATED.
YOU KNOW, IF I FEEL LIKE I'M
TOO TIRED OR SLAYING ALIGNED,
I TAKE A MINI FLOOD DAMAGE AND
RECORD HEAT. A ONE-TWO PUNCH.
CHAPEL HILL MAY FACE MORE OFTEN
IS CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVES
WEATHER EXTREMES.
>> MANAGERS THAT THIS TRADER
JOE'S TELL ME THEY HOPE TO
REOPEN IN 2 WEEKS, BUT MANY
OTHER STORES HERE ARE FACING
A LONGER ROAD AHEAD WITH MORE
SWELTERING DAYS ON THE HORIZON