Hurricane Matthew Disaster Recovery and Resilience Initiative

Fair Bluff

Fair Bluff, a town of fewer than 1,000 people along the Lumber River in Columbus County, N.C., sits near the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Built in 1873, the town’s prominent features include an elevated riverwalk along the Lumber, with main street one block away. Hurricane Matthew damaged approximately 100 homes out of fewer than 600 total housing units. Much of the town lies within the 100-year floodplain.

On Oct. 13, 2016, floodwaters from Hurricane Matthew moved downstream toward the eastern coast of North Carolina, causing the Lumber River to rise approximately 15 feet.

The North Carolina State University College of design proposed multiple housing types for relocation, elevation and further protection of future structures in town, as well as greenspace designation, through the Homeplace document.

Kinston

Kinston, N.C., is a city of more than 21,000, in Lenoir County, located along the Neuse River. Hurricane Matthew damaged about 200 homes, out of a total of 11,000 housing units. On Oct. 14, 2016, the Neuse River rose to 28 feet, twice as high as flood stage.

Much of the town lies within the 100-year floodplain, and Kinston was seriously impacted by Hurricane Fran in 1996 and Hurricane Floyd in 1999. FEMA and the state of North Carolina bought out properties in the 100-year floodplain, which extended about 3/4 of a mile into town from the river. Once acquired, the homes are demolished and the land maintained as open space in perpetuity. The funds provided to residents can be used to purchase a home located outside the floodplain.

In the intervening years, some former residential streets have remained blocked, and proposed uses such as parkland have largely stalled. Other flooded areas of the town have been converted into a park and nature center, and a large dog park complex, among other uses.

The North Carolina State University College of Design proposed multiple housing types for relocation, elevation, and further protection of future structures in town, as well as greenspace designation, through the Homeplace document.

Lumberton

Lumberton, N.C., is a city of nearly 22,000 people in Robeson County, along the Lumber River in southern North Carolina. Among the city’s attractions is the Lumber River State Park, capitalizing on the proximity to the waterway. Hurricane Matthew destroyed about 400 homes out of more than 8,500 housing units.

Princeville

Princeville, N.C., is a town of about 2,200 people, pre-Hurricane Matthew. About 450 homes were destroyed during the hurricane and subsequent flooding, and an estimated 80% of the town was underwater.

Founded in 1865 as Freedom Hill, Princeville is the first town founded by freed slaves in the United States. Though surrounded by a levee built in the 1960s, Princeville was affected by two storms less than 20 years apart that overtopped those defenses: Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

Seven Springs

Seven Springs, N.C., is a small town of 76 people in eastern Wayne County, along the Neuse River. Hurricane Matthew damaged almost all of the homes and most of the businesses in town.

The North Carolina State University College of design proposed multiple housing types for relocation, elevation, and further protection of future structures in town, as well as greenspace designation, through the Homeplace document.

Windsor

Windsor, N.C., is a town of about 3,600 people along the Cashie River, in Bertie County in northeastern North Carolina. Parts of the town lie in the 100-year and 500-year floodplain.

Hurricane Matthew damaged about 60 homes, out of about 1,110 total housing units. On Oct. 9, 2016, the Cashie rose to 17 feet, more than double its flood stage.

The North Carolina State University College of design proposed multiple housing types for relocation, elevation, and further protection of future structures in town, as well as greenspace designation, through the Homeplace document.