Heavy rains brought on by Tropical Storm Chantal, later downgraded to a tropical depression, caused severe flooding across Chapel Hill Sunday night.
The National Weather Service sent out a flash flood warning Sunday at 8:12 p.m., calling the situation in Chapel Hill “dangerous and life-threatening,” though there have been no reports of injuries as of Monday morning, according to the Town of Chapel Hill.
By 10:15 p.m., first responders were evacuating some residents of Camelot Village in the 100 block of Estes Drive due to flash flooding, according to the Town’s website.
But Camelot Village was not the only apartment complex that experienced flooding — Airport Gardens, 900 Willow, Bolinwood Condominiums and Booker Creek Townhouse Apartments also saw severe flooding and displaced residents, Alex Carrasquillo, communications manager for the Town, wrote in an email.
As of 11:47 p.m., 63 people had been displaced from their homes, Carrasquillo confirmed via email.
Flooding was also particularly severe in the University Place and Eastgate Crossing shopping centers. Waist-high flood waters overtook cars, flooded buildings and parking lots, and prompted water rescue teams.
The Chapel Hill Fire Department, partnered with neighboring agencies, has completed more than 50 water rescues at these apartment complexes and shopping centers since Sunday evening, according to an email from the Town.
Rob Crouch was one of those water rescuers. At around 11:30 p.m. Sunday night, he crossed the flooded Eastgate Crossing shopping center and arrived via boat at the intersection of East Franklin Street and Eastgate Crossing with a group that included members of the South Orange Rescue Squad.
