Moore: Tropical Storm Chantal Dumps Nearly 10 Inches of Rain on Southern Pines, Triggers Historic Flooding

Tropical Storm Chantal brought between 8 and 10 inches of rain to Southern Pines on July 6, causing historic flooding and widespread damage. The storm stalled over the area, resulting in intense, highly localized rainfall.

A local meteorologist estimated that the storm dropped nearly half a billion gallons of water — enough to fill more than 750 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Preliminary assessments classify the event as a 500- to 1,000-year flood, meaning its severity far exceeded the capacity of most natural and built stormwater systems.

The last time Southern Pines experienced flooding of this magnitude was during Hurricane Fran nearly 30 years ago.

Town staff responded immediately and continues to work with regional and state partners to assess damage, prioritize repairs and restore services. As of late afternoon July 7, the following updates were provided:

Drinking Water: All town-provided drinking water remains safe to consume. Water systems remained fully operational during the storm, and the Water Treatment Plant completed all required testing to ensure quality. One water line collapsed under the parking lot of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina on Sandy Avenue. Crews repaired the break and restored service by early Monday afternoon.

Sanitary Sewer: Five sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) were identified as a result of the storm. Cleanup, sampling and reporting are underway in accordance with state and federal protocols.

• Moore County system: Two SSOs were reported — one on Midland Road near U.S. Highway 1 due to road collapse, and another near 255 Central Drive.
• Town of Southern Pines system: Three SSOs occurred — one at a lift station on N.C. Highway 22 at Nick’s Creek, and two others tied to dam failures on Yadkin Road and at Longleaf Country Club.

Parks, Trails and Outdoor Facilities: All trails, greenways and Martin Dog Park remain closed due to significant flood damage. However, the town pool, parks and playgrounds reopened Monday.

Street Closures – Longleaf Community: A dam failure at Longleaf Golf Course led to severe road flooding and damage. Repair work began Monday, with some roads expected to reopen by late Monday or early Tuesday. Despite the damage, the area’s connected street network ensured continued residential access throughout the closure.

“Tropical Storm Chantal brought an extraordinary amount of rainfall in a very short time,” said Mayor Taylor Clement. “This was one of the most intense weather events Moore County has seen, and we were fortunate our first responders acted quickly to protect our residents. Our focus now is on reopening roads, assessing damage, and supporting residents and businesses as efficiently and safely as possible.

“I’m proud of our staff’s professionalism and dedication, and equally proud of our community’s resilience. We are grateful to our regional and state partners whose support has been essential and continues to be during this recovery process. Our top priority remains clear: restoring infrastructure and helping Southern Pines recover.”

The Town of Southern Pines has created a dedicated webpage for storm recovery updates, including road closures, facility notices and available resources. Visit sopinesnc.info/Chantal.

Cleanup Assistance Available: The North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NCVOAD) is offering free help with storm cleanup, including fallen tree and debris removal, sediment clearing and tarping damaged areas. To request help, call 910-218-1569 or visit crisiscleanup.org. Services are free but subject to availability due to high demand. The hotline will remain open through Friday, July 18.

Residents can also find ongoing updates via the town’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/townofsouthernpines.

Contributed by Jessica Roth, Assistant Town Manager, Town of Southern Pines.