Residents continued the cleanup process Friday from the rising waters that came after heavy rains earlier this week. Gov. Easley met with local officials but didn't tour the flooded areas.
HARRISBURG, N.C. -- Residents continued the cleanup process Friday from the rising waters that came after heavy rains earlier this week. Harrisburg, N.C. was the hardest hit city in Cabarrus County, and residents there have asked the state for help.
Gov. Mike Easley met with local officials in Concord Thursday afternoon but couldn't tour any of the flooded areas.
"We're doing everything we can to make sure that they have everything they need,” Easley said as he addressed local officials and the media. But he didn’t meet with those personally affected by the flooding waters.
Denise Beal owns a home in the Middleton neighborhood, but she can't live in it now.
"It is unlivable. We're being told anywhere from four to six weeks,” Beal said, adding that she would love to see the governor tour her neighborhood and what's left of her home. “I think he needs to see the whole picture, the whole flood plain."
Mike Thevenin considers himself one of the lucky ones even though he too was affected by the flood. One thing he hasn't seen though is immediate funding to help with the cleanup.
"What, they offer a low interest loan to a homeowner who has stuff ripped out of their house? A low interest loan doesn't do anything but take money out of your pocket,” he said.
Thevenin and some of his neighbors on Middleton Circle survived floods before, and so they have an idea of what's coming next.
"It's great to have that, the funding available, but there's so much red tape. We went through that in ‘97, trying to get federal assistance. It's kind of frustrating."
State assessors were out Friday surveying some of the 70-plus homes damaged in the flood. Three teams will be working in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties, trying to tally the damage done by all the rain.
Decisions about financial aid can't be made until all the assessments are complete.
"People need to remember this is not going to go away over night,” Easley said.
Fans and generators will continue to work overtime though as homeowners wait to see if they are eligible for assistance.
Easley added that the state hopes to have damage estimates early next week, and will decide on what financial assistance is available at that time.