Heavy rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal unleashed chaos across central North Carolina on July 6 and 7, 2025, flooding homes, businesses, and roads, and prompting dozens of water rescues. The storm, which made landfall near Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, early Sunday, left residents scrambling to safety and authorities warning of dangerous travel conditions as they searched for missing people.
In Chapel Hill, the Fire Department, alongside neighboring agencies, conducted over 50 water rescues since Sunday evening. Floodwaters inundated apartment complexes, condos, and shopping centers, displacing more than 60 people. At Eastgate Crossings shopping center, the scene was grim: floodwaters shattered the glass doors of a Talbots store, leaving mannequins scattered across the floor, while kayaks at the Great Outdoor Provision Co. were swept 30 feet from their displays. A large dumpster even crashed into the outdoor dining area of a Shake Shack, where chairs and debris littered the flooded space.
Hua Jiang, a local resident, recounted the panic at the Shake Shack on Sunday night. Around 8:55 p.m., water began pouring through the doors. “People started panicking,” he said. After employees urged everyone to flee, Jiang found his Toyota RAV4 submerged in the parking lot and sought higher ground at a nearby Chipotle. “It’s unfortunate, but that’s life,” he said, reflecting on the loss.
In Chatham County, Sheriff Mike Roberson warned that while floodwaters had receded in some areas, travel remained hazardous. Authorities were searching for two canoers who went missing after launching on Jordan Lake late Sunday afternoon. Their canoe was recovered that night, but the search continued into Monday. Additionally, North Carolina Highway 902 near Chatham Central Road partially collapsed, further complicating travel.
The Eno River near Durham crested at a record-breaking 25.63 feet early Monday, surpassing its previous high of 23.6 feet, while the Haw River reached 32.5 feet, the second-highest level ever recorded there. Over 34,000 customers were without power Monday morning, according to poweroutage.us, and more than 100 roads, including major sections of Interstate 85/Interstate 40 near Durham, were closed, with reopenings expected within 24 to 48 hours.
The storm’s impact extended beyond North Carolina, with Chantal’s remnants expected to drench Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., with heavy rain and thunderstorms through Monday night. Up to 10 inches of rain had already fallen in parts of the mid-Atlantic, raising concerns about further flash flooding. Forecasters also warned of dangerous surf and rip currents along beaches from northeastern Florida to the mid-Atlantic.
As cleanup began, residents like Chad Pickens, manager of Great Outdoor Provision Co., put the losses in perspective. Comparing the damage to the catastrophic floods in Texas, where over 80 lives were lost, he said, “These are just things, and while it hurts to lose things, it’s a lot different to losing people.”
Officials urged caution as crews assessed damage, cleared downed trees, and continued searching for the missing. With Chantal’s effects lingering, central North Carolina faces a long road to recovery.