Lumberton’s New Floodgate: A Decade After Hurricane Matthew
In a significant move towards bolstering infrastructure in North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein recently participated in the inauguration of a new floodgate in Lumberton. This event not only marks 10 years since the devastation of Hurricane Matthew but also emphasizes the ongoing efforts to prepare for future extreme weather events.
“North Carolinians understand the importance of building stronger infrastructure to protect against severe weather, and the twin tragedies of Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence made clear the need in Robeson County,” commented Governor Josh Stein. “Lumberton’s new floodgate will save lives, protect people’s homes, and preserve their livelihoods.”
A decade ago, Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc across North Carolina, claiming 25 lives and displacing numerous residents due to intense flooding. The newly established floodgate in Lumberton is set to shield both residents and businesses in the city’s industrial areas. This initiative is part of a $15 million project with support from several partners, including:
- North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program
- North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant – Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) program
- Golden LEAF Foundation
- North Carolina General Assembly Special Appropriation
- U.S. Economic Development Administration
Governor Stein is dedicated to reinforcing infrastructure to combat extreme weather and accommodate future growth. In recent developments, he announced $6 million in grants through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint program aimed at minimizing flood risks.
The NC Flood Resiliency Blueprint stands as North Carolina’s major investment in flood mitigation. This initiative, guided by scientific data and stakeholder input, aids in planning, evaluating, and implementing flood resilience strategies. The Blueprint continues to distribute $76 million to projects focusing on water retention, floodplain restoration, and nature-based flood mitigation across multiple river basins, as directed by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Governor Stein has been instrumental in advancing over $1.8 billion in water infrastructure projects statewide, which focus on enhancing drinking and wastewater infrastructure, resilience, and reducing contamination from chemicals such as PFAS.
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