80 people rescued by boat after historic Eno River flooding in Durham County, officials say

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – First responders conducted a series of water rescues as the Eno River in Durham County flooded and reached several houses and apartments early Monday morning.

According to the Durham Fire Department, the river began to rise around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, eventually cresting and causing major flooding near Roxboro Road and Rippling Stream Road.

The areas of High Meadow Road, Omega Road, Felicia Street and Graymont Drive were also impacted, fire officials said.

“Dozens of apartments and homes had to be evacuated as the water level began to reach the tops of vehicles,” Durham fire officials said in a Monday morning news release.

Approximately 80 people were rescued by boat, and dozens more were evacuated on foot, authorities said.

“The Durham Fire Department committed all water rescue resources to the area, as well as water rescue resources from surrounding departments, and worked throughout the night to ensure the safety of all those affected by the event,” the news release stated.

Two “maydays” were called during the flooding: one for an overturned boat and the other for a boat that was forced into some trees by the current and got trapped, fire officials said. All were rescued and accounted for with no injuries.

“Water rescue operations have ceased and damage assessment will be ongoing throughout the day,” the news release stated.

Water levels at the Eno River rose to their highest point with an increase of 25.63 feet, which qualifies as major flooding, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This breaks a nearly 29-year record, when the river eclipsed 23.58 feet during Hurricane Fran in 1996.

Durham County EMS, the Durham Police Department, Durham County Emergency Management, Lebanon Fire Department, Bahama Fire Department, Chapel Hill Fire Department, Southern Orange Fire Department, Northern Wake Fire Department and Person County Rescue also assisted during the water rescue operations.

This comes after torrential rains from the remnants of Tropical Depression Chantal heavily flooded various parts of central North Carolina.

Over in nearby Chapel Hill, six inches of rain had fallen in areas of the town, according to a flash flood warning by the National Weather Service just after 8 p.m. Sunday.

A state of emergency was declared for Orange County after extensive rainfall caused widespread flooding across much of the area.