AG 1997 08 12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Independent Tribune. Concord-Kannapolis, N.C. Friday, August 1, 1997 Beleaguered Middleton FloOd residents ask audience By JONATHAN WATSON Staff Writer * HARRISBURG -- More than 40 residents of Middleton gathered Thursday to voice concerns to County Commissioner Carolyn Carpenter and demand that they be included on the agenda for the Aug. 12 Commissioners meeting. "We live in fear every time we hear thunder," one resident said. Standing on Chris and Terri Eaton's front porch, Carpenter told residents, many of whom incurred major losses to flooding last week, that the commission had not been aware of the severity of their prob- lems previously. She told them to write a letter to the commission and that she would personally give it to Council Chaix'woman Sue Casper. Many M~ddleton residents did not have flood insurance before storms dumped more than a foot of water on the area last week. A few lost almost everything in their homes, as the water line [n some houses rose above three feet. Middleton was apparently built in a flood-risk area because officials mistakenly identified the flood plain at the time as the"100-year flood plain during early development. Carpenter said. Over the years the flood line has moved closer and closer to Middleton's homes, although some residents say they had no idea their risk was increasing. Residents say that drainage from nearby developments and debris left over from Hurricane Hugo have combined to make Back Creek over- flow its banks whenever several inches of rain fall on the area. "I've been here two years and seen three floods," one resident said. Now, they want someone to take responsibility to prevent future floods. Back Creek needs to be dredged, they say, or reservoir ponds need to be created to handle storm runoff. Another concern residents raised was the inability of emergency ser- vices to respond to Middleton calls See FIo.od / page 7A continued from page 1 during a time of flooding. Middleton is located off of Stallings Road. which floods on bo'~ -ides of ~he subdivision, cutt.~:g off access b,', road. Last We&~,:sday. u television crew had to *aajt i~ours for floodwaters to recede N:t;)re it could get into Middleton. No one was injured as a result of the flooding, residents said. but only because vigilant neighbors went door to door in the early morning hours to help those most at risk e','ac uate. With the worst part of hurricane seastm approaching, Middleton's.. re~idems told Carpenter that they don't v, ant to {ake an>, more chances.