Flooded streets and neighborhoods, fallen trees and destruction, was what Tropical Storm Debby left for the residents of Robeson County, 80 miles from the coast, and in the path of the storm upon its arrival in North Carolina early Thursday morning August 8.
For Amy Moscoso, a Guatemalan community leader who has lived in the Lumberton area for more than 15 years, it is not unusual for this catastrophic flooding situation to be repeated in the county, which has been hit by two other historic storms.
“I think this time the storm took us by surprise, we let our guard down. "We didn't think it was that big, that's why there was no movement in the stores, and this morning despite the rain, people had to figure out how to get to work," Moscoso told Enlace Latino NC.
In the region there are several chicken and pork processors, where the majority of employees are Latino immigrants. Moscoso said more than 2,000 Guatemalans live in Robeson County.
Region hit by other storms
After almost seven years, the town of Lumberton and others in Robeson County have not yet recovered from the damage caused by the last storm.
In 2016, Hurricane Matthew hit Lumberton, when no one realized the 20 inches of rain that would fall. At that time the Lumber River overflowed its banks, rising up to 11 feet above the level, flooding the city center and neighborhoods.
Two years later, the scene was repeated when Hurricane Florence reached North Carolina as a Category 1, dumping more than 35 inches of rain over two days in different areas of the Carolinas.
The most affected are undocumented immigrants
Moscoso said Robeson is one of the poorest counties in North Carolina, where both residents and local government officials lack resources.
“With Hurricane Florence in 2018 we put pressure on the authorities and they sent the National Guard, but the most affected by the storms are always Latinos who do not have documents,” Moscoso commented.
Moscoso referred to the federal aid that reaches the regions after a natural disaster with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“FEMA helps, but you have to have papers. On other occasions they have accepted that help be provided through children born here, but we do not know what it will be like now,” mentioned the community leader.
Most don't know what to do during emergencies
The Guatemalan woman remembers the damage that occurred in 2016 and 2018, and how people barely recover partially from those catastrophes that destroyed their homes and belongings.
“The majority do not know what to do and where to go before and after a disaster. The only thing we can do is inform them that secondary schools are converted into shelters, or to dial 511 to see the conditions of the streets, or to get food or shelter call 211, also to go to the FEMA website," he explained. .
There are other areas vulnerable to flooding in Robeson County, in the Red Springs, Shannon, Saint Pauls and Lumber Bridge areas.
Specifically, Moscoso received several photographs of those places, which friends and acquaintances shared with him of the floods when they were on their way to work in the early morning, and on their way back to their homes in the afternoon.
“There are many flooded streets, vehicles submerged in water, houses where the water reaches halfway. “These are places that have been through the same thing before, and where the water takes many days to drain, but no one does anything to replenish the land,” he said.
According to the Guatemalan, firefighters have been helping to rescue people in Red Springs, on Rennert Road, in a neighborhood known as Ventura, where the water reaches half of the homes.
What's next
According to Moscoso, what follows now after the storm is the process of cleaning up the debris and garbage left by the floods.
“People who have the means have to figure out how to clean and remove water from their homes, but those who don't have the means will have to wait for the water to drain. Here there is very little that the authorities do, if there is no pressure,” said the community leader.
How to check the condition of the roads s
North Carolina residents can use the device tool FIMAN (Flood Innundation Mapping Alert Network), to have real-time alerts about where flooding of rivers and streams is expected.
The tool incorporates information from state and federal agencies that monitor levels and predict when these events, like the one that occurred with Debby, will occur.
For the latest on road conditions in North Carolina, visit Drivenc.gov or ReadyNC.gov
Shelters enabled
Information about shelter options in North Carolina and power outages can be found through the county websites or you can visit ReadyNC.gov. You can also call 211 for emergency information.
Storm Debby Updates
On the ReadyNC.gov website, you can obtain accurate and up-to-date information on current weather conditions, evacuation orders, evacuation routes, road conditions, power outages, shelters, disaster assistance, and flooding.
North Carolinians can call the following numbers for resources and information regarding Tropical Storm Debby:
Call to: 511 or 1-877-511-4662 for information on road conditions.
Call to: 211 or 1-888-892-1162 for resources.
PODCAST
After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
▶️Press play to listen!
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