GOV. EASLEY DECLARES DISASTER IN CABARRUS AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES
Raleigh - Gov. Mike Easley today declared Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties state disaster areas, making residents and businesses in those counties eligible to apply for state disaster assistance to help with repairs from flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay. Easley is also requesting a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration, which would make residents and business owners affected by the floods eligible to apply for low-interest federal loans.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Raleigh - Gov. Mike Easley today declared Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties state disaster areas, making residents and businesses in those counties eligible to apply for state disaster assistance to help with repairs from flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay. Easley is also requesting a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration, which would make residents and business owners affected by the floods eligible to apply for low-interest federal loans.
“The state grants and the federal loans will help families and businesses recover,” said Easley. “A lot of people lost their homes and possessions in the flood and this assistance is essential to getting them back on their feet.”
If the SBA approves the disaster declaration for Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties, residents and business owners in the contiguous counties of Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Rowan, Stanly and Union would be eligible to apply for the loans and state assistance. Application center locations and hours will be announced as soon as they are available.
On Wednesday, Easley directed state damage assessment teams to Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties to work with local officials to determine if the homes and businesses that were affected have insurance to cover the repairs. The assessment teams found Cabarrus County had 94 homes and three businesses damaged or with major damage that were not covered by insurance. In Mecklenburg County, 147 homes and one business suffered major damage and were not insured.
In order to be eligible for either state disaster aid or Small Business Administration loans, a county must have a minimum of 25 homes or businesses with greater than 40 percent uninsured damages.
Easley visited Cabarrus County on Thursday and credited the quick action of local emergency responders and swift water rescue teams with saving lives, especially in the mountains and western piedmont where the flash flooding was the worst. But he cautioned that some rivers and steams may still crest over the next few days and people should never drive into flood waters or go around traffic barricades.
“Most injuries in a flood occur after the flood is over, mostly because people do not follow instructions,” Easley said.
The state Department of Transportation reports that as of Friday morning, there were still a few roads closed or under repair. N.C. 8 south of Lexington in Davidson County is expected to open tonight. Rocky Mt. Church Road near Ansonville in Anson County is still under water but is expected to open by next Tuesday. Two roads in Cabarrus County were undermined by the flooding and will reopen in mid-September following repairs. They are Miami Church Road ( S.R. 1132 ) at Cold Springs Road and Zion Church Road ( S.R. 1152 ) at Flows Store Road.
Office of the Governor 116 W. Jones Street, Suite 202, Raleigh , NC 27603-8001 Phone: ( 919 ) 733-5612
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