When it comes to flooding, Charlotte, NC, has seen its fair share of high water levels. The residents of this beautiful city have had to deal with flood damage throughout its history. That is why the citizens of Charlotte have always used emergency board up services to prevent more damages. The entire state of North Carolina has a history of flooding caused mainly by hurricanes.
When Hurricane Florence hit the area in 2018, it battered North Carolina. Localized flooding was frequent in Charlotte which was faced with 11 inches of rain. Many experienced flood damage and wind damage due to the massive storm. Hurricane Florence is the most recent natural disaster that is fresh in the minds of residents. But hurricanes are not the only thing that can cause flooding in the region.
Most people attribute flooding in Charlotte to hurricanes, but the truth is some of the worst floodings happened during tropical storms. In 2008, Tropical Storm Fay dropped 11 inches of rain on Charlotte in a short period. This caused significant flooding in certain parts of the city and damaged many buildings. Tropical Storm Fay was one of the worst to hit the city.
One of the worst floods to strike the Charlotte area was the historic flood of 1916. During this natural disaster, high winds did most of the damage, followed by flooding, which only made matters worse. It all began on July 13, 1916, when the rain started to fall on Charlotte’s residences. Over the next three days, high winds and rain began to pound the region. On July 15, after the storm had passed, Charlotte’s city looked as if a hurricane had hit it.
While Charlotte, NC only had five inches of rain over that period, the winds battered the city. The rest of the state did not fare as well, and flooding was rampant in many areas. Nearby Altapass was not as lucky as Charlotte when it came to rainfall. In just one day, Altapass saw over 22 inches of rain, which was the most ever recorded in 24 hours in the United States.
The flood of 1916 was triggered by back-to-back hurricanes that devastated the area. Farmers were the hardest hit by the flooding, which washed away much of the topsoil. It took farmers several years to fully recover from the historic flooding and high winds. Agriculture was not the same after the flood of 1916.
Historical records indicate that around 80 people lost their lives during the storm. Property damage was quite severe, and the estimated costs of the damage were just over 21 million dollars. That was a tremendous amount of money in 1916, and recovery took many years. Luckily, the region recovered, and investment helped boost the economy.
The historic flood of 1916 is one of the most reported on. However, in recent years, Charlotte has seen flooding that has caused damage to homes, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructures. Below, you will find some more recent events that are probably still on the minds of the Charlotte residents.
Charlotte and the local area has certain flood zones that you should be aware of. If you live in the city, there is a chance that you may be in a flood zone. For your safety, it is always a good idea to know where you stand. Make sure to check local flood maps to see if your home is in a flood zone. If you are, you can protect yourself by taking out flood insurance. flood insurance can be added to your homeowner’s insurance plan for an extra monthly fee. While it will cost you more money each month, you will be protected if something goes wrong.
As you can see, Charlotte has seen its fair share of historic flooding. As tropical storms and hurricanes increasingly get worse and more frequent, inevitably, there will be more flooding in the future. When it comes to disaster restoration, Charlotte does a great job of taking care of its residents. Hopefully, future flooding will have less of an impact on life and property.