A year after Hurricane Matthew, WRAL takes you to the communities that were hit the hardest
>>> THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER
STORM NAMED MATTHEW.
>> I AM NOT GOING TO LEAVE
HOME.
>> EVERY DAY I STOP AT MY
MAILBOX.>> PEOPLE HERE ARE
RESILIENT.>> I AM DEBRA MORGAN.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THE POWER OF WATER WAS THE
SIGNATURE OF HURRICANE MATTHEW
. IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND SCENIC IN
RALEIGH RIGHT NOW BUT THIS WAS
A RAGING RIVER WHEN HURRICANE
MATTHEW CAME THROUGH.
IT BROUGHT THE RAINFALL AND
SENDING IT DOWNSTREAM.
28 PEOPLE DIED FROM HURRICANE
MATTHEW IN NORTH CAROLINA. MORE
THAN 2300 PEOPLE WERE RESCUED
FROM THE WATER.
90,000 HOMES WERE DAMAGED OR
DESTROYED.
DAMAGE COST 4.8 BILLION DOLLARS
IN OUR STATE.
AND THIS YEAR HARVEY, IRMA, AND
MARIA.
PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA SEE
THOSE IMAGES ON THE NEWS AND
THEY KNOW THE FEELING ALL TOO
WELL.
IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR WE WILL
SHARE THE STORIES OF PEOPLE
REBUILDING THEIR LIVES AND
THEIR HOMES.
ALSO ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHAT ABOUT THE TOWNS THAT WERE
COMPLETELY UNDERWATER.
AND WAS THE FEMA MONEY ENOUGH
TO HELP.
THIS IS LITTLE ROCKFISH CREEK.
ON A NORMAL DAY IT DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE MUCH.
BUT WHEN MATTHEW CAME THROUGH,
THE WATER WAS OVER THE ROOF OF
THIS HOUSE.
NOW LOOK AT IT.
ABANDONED.
UNLIVABLE.
WE ARE TALKING TO FAMILIES
STILL TRYING TO REBUILD THEIR
LIVES ONE YEAR AFTER THE
STORM.>> IT IS OUR LIFE THAT WE
CANNOT GET BACK.
>> Reporter: THIS IS A LOT OF
STUFF FROM THIS WOMAN'S LIFE.
>> PHOTOGRAPHS OF US GROWING
UP.
ALL OF THOSE MOMENTS ARE GONE.
>> Reporter: WATER FROM THE
RIVER FILLED THE POND IN FRONT
OF HER HOME AND FOUR FEET OF IT
ENDED UP IN HER HOME.
SHE AND HER BROTHER WHO IS
PARTIALLY BLIND AND PARALYZED
WERE RESCUED BY BOAT.
>> THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOME
IS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND
ACCORDING TO A CONTRACTOR.>>
Reporter: DURING THE STORM SHE
WAS ONE OF MANY STAYING IN
SHELTERS.
KAREN STAYED IN A MOTEL.
650 FAMILIES WERE IN HOTELS.
>> WE WERE ALTOGETHER IN ONE
ROOM WITH THE KIDS.
>> Reporter: SHE LIVED IN A
ROOM WITH HER FIVE CHILDREN FOR
EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE FINDING A
MOBILE HOME.
FOUR FEET OF WATER FILLED THE
BUILDINGS AT FIRST BAPTIST
HOMES IN LUMBERTON.
NOW RESIDENTS ARE FINALLY GOING
HOME AFTER 11 MONTHS.
LOLA SMITH STAYED WITH HER
FAMILY UNTIL HER APARTMENT HERE
AT FIRST BAPTIST HOMES WAS
REFURBISHED.
>> WE THANK EVERYBODY FOR
EVERYTHING THEY DID FOR US.
WITHOUT THEM, WHERE WOULD WE
BE?
HOMELESS, WITH NO PLACE TO
GO.>> THESE PIECES MY SISTER
WAS ABLE TO SAVE FOR US.>>
Reporter: A NEW HOME FOR MENA
AND HER BROTHER.
>> I DID NOT WANT ANY PROPERTY
LOCATED IN THE FLOOD ZONE.>>
Reporter: HER RETIREMENT PLANS
ARE GONE.
THE HOUSE THEY WERE IN WAS PAID
FOR.
NOW SHE IS IN A NEW HOME WITH
THE NEW MORTGAGE.
BUT SHE AND HER BROTHER STILL
HAVE EACH OTHER AND BOTH ARE
THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE.
>>> FEMA IS WORKING WITH A LOT
OF ORGANIZATIONS TO GET THESE
HOMES REBUILT, A LOT OF FAITH-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
THE BAPTIST ARE WORKING ON
THREE HOUSES ON THE STREET IN
LUMBERTON.
THEY HAVE COMPLETED 60 SO FAR.
THEY HAVE 30 UNDERWAY BEING
REBUILT.
THEY STILL HAVE 120 STILL TO
GO.>> Reporter: HOW MANY
VOLUNTEERS DO USUALLY HAVE
WORKING ON A HOUSE.
>> WE TRY TO KEEP IT TO FIVE OR
SIX FOR A HOUSE OF THIS SIZE.>>
A LOT OF THESE VOLUNTEERS ARE
PROFESSIONALS VOLUNTEERING
THEIR TIME.
THEY COULD BE MAKING A LOT OF
MONEY.
THEY ARE DOING THIS FOR LOVE.>>
Reporter: HOW DO THE VOLUNTEERS
AND HOW DO YOU JUST KEEP GOING?
>> WE GO TO BED TIRED LATE AT
NIGHT AND WAKE UP AND DO IT
AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING.>>
Reporter: CAN YOU BELIEVE IT
HAS BEEN ONE YEAR AND THERE IS
STILL ALL THIS DAMAGE?
>> IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE.
WE'VE HAD THREE PEOPLE COME IN
THIS WEEK STILL NEEDING HOMES
AND IT IS ONLY MONDAY.>>
Reporter: WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE
VOLUNTEERING TO HELP?
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE -- LOW
VOLUME ]>> Reporter: THEY SAY
THIS WEEKEND YOU MAY BE BACK
IN?
>> I WILL PRAY FOR THAT.
>> Reporter: HURRICANE MATTHEW
DAMAGED 880 HOMES ACROSS THE
STATE.
$97 MILLION HAS BEEN GIVEN OUT
IN GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO
INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS.
BUT IS THAT ENOUGH?>> Reporter:
RECOVERING FROM THE FLOODING
DEVASTATION TAKES TIME,
DETERMINATION, AND MONEY.
>> THERE IS $391 MILLION FOR
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.>> $200
MILLION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING
PARTS.>> Reporter: STATE
LAWMAKERS APPROVED $301 MILLION
FOR CLEANUP TO INFRASTRUCTURE
REPAIRS AND HOUSING HELP.
ADDING IN FEDERAL MONEY AND
DONATIONS, THE STATE HAS TAKEN
IN $1.5 BILLION IN DISASTER
RELIEF.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF
MONEY BUT IT REALLY ONLY GO SO
FAR.
>> I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED
THAT WASHINGTON IS NOT MAKING
THE NEED OF NORTH CAROLINA A
TOP PRIORITY.
>> Reporter: THAT WAS THE
GOVERNOR BACK IN MAY WHEN THE
STATE RECEIVED JUST A FRACTION
OF WHAT IT NEEDED IN AID.
NORTH CAROLINA STILL STANDS
$711 MILLION SHORT OF THE
DISASTER RELIEF LEADERS
REQUESTED.
>> IT HAS BEEN VERY
FRUSTRATING, VERY FRUSTRATING.
I AM TIRED OF CRYING, ASKING,
AND PLEADING.
>> Reporter: ONE YEAR AFTER THE
FLOODING HERE, PAM IS STUCK.
THIS FAMILY NOW LIVES IN A FEMA
TRAILER ON THEIR PROPERTY AFTER
LIVING IN A HOTEL FOR SIX
MONTHS.
>> EVERYTHING IS DESTROYED.
THERE WAS OVER FOUR FEET OF
WATER IN THE HOME.>> Reporter:
THIS AREA REMAINS UNTOUCHED.
NOW THERE IS GOVERNMENT
PERMITTING REDTAPE.
>> FEMA SAYS THEY'VE DONE THEIR
PORTION.
THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD SAYS
THEY ARE STILL WAITING ON FEMA.
WE DON'T KNOW WHO TO BELIEVE.
>> AND THE D.O.T.
REQUESTED $158 MILLION FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS AND SO
FAR $32 MILLION HAS BEEN
GRANTED.
NOW FACTOR IN HURRICANE HARVEY
IN TEXAS AND HURRICANE IRMA IN
FLORIDA.
FEMA PUT NORTH CAROLINA
PROMISED ASSISTANCE FOR MATTHEW
VICTIMS ON HOLD.
THAT FRIESEN -- THAT FRIESEN
HAS RECENTLY BEEN LIFTED.
>> I AM STUCK IN THE MIDDLE.
I AM STILL PAYING A MORTGAGE ON
A SHELL OF A HOME EVERY SINGLE
MONTH.>> Reporter: THIS
WATERMARK SYMBOLS A PROBLEM.
THIS FAMILY HAS BEEN APPROVED,
BUT THEY ARE STILL WAITING ON A
BUYOUT.
>> OUT OF ROUGHLY 3000
HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE APPLIED
FOR THIS ASSISTANCE, WE CAN
ONLY TAKE CARE OF ABOUT 800
WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.>>
Reporter: MANY ARE STILL
WAITING AFTER MATTHEW.
>> I WANT TO LIVE IN MY HOUSE.
I WANT TO PUT MY HOUSE BACK
TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: REBUILDING IS A
CHALLENGE FACING HOMES ALL OVER
NORTH CAROLINA AFTER MATTHEW.
WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER
THIS BREAK.
THIS BREAK.
>>> HURRICANE MATTHEW LEFT 80%
OF THIS COUNT UNDERWATER.
MOLD IS STILL GROWING ON THIS
HOUSE ONE YEAR AFTER THE STORM.
IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO A
LEVY IN THIS AREA BUT THEY WERE
NOT ENOUGH.
ADAM OWENS TALKS TO US NOW.
>> SOMETIMES YOU SIT DOWN AND
THINK ABOUT IT AND YOU CAN GET
DEPRESSED.>> Reporter: DORIS
STILL SEES HER HOME.
THE FLOOD AFTER HURRICANE
MATTHEW TOOK IT ALL.
>> I HAD FOUR BEDROOMS AND TWO
FULL BATHS.
I JUST WILL BE GLAD WHEN THIS
TOWN GETS BACK TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: RESIDENTS HERE
ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THEY WERE
SPARED BUT THREE DAYS LATER
THERE WAS TROUBLE.
LINDA JOYNER IS THE MAYOR PRO
TEM.
>> IT WAS ALMOST LIKE, IS THIS
REALLY HAPPENING AGAIN?
>> Reporter: THE TAR RIVER WAS
FLOWING IN AND 80% OF THE TOWN
WAS UNDERWATER.
THIS IS HOW HIGH IT GOT IN
CURTIS MURPHY'S HOME.
STILL THERE WAS NO DOUBT HE
WOULD MAKE REPAIRS AND
RETURN.>> I KNOW MOST OF THE
PEOPLE HERE.>> Reporter: BUT
THERE ARE LESS AND LESS PEOPLE
AROUND THESE DAYS.
FLOYD IN 1999 AND MATTHEW LAST
YEAR.
NOW FEWER PEOPLE ARE RETURNING.
IT IS EMOTIONAL.
>> SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO
COME BACK HERE.
[ CRYING ] I AM NOT GOING TO
LEAVE HOME.
>> Reporter: THE VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPARTMENT ALSO LOST THEIR
HOME.
THIS PLACE IS TEMPORARY.
>> IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT, BUT IT
IS WHAT WE HAVE.
>> Reporter: THE FIRE CHIEF,
JAMES POWELL, ALSO WORRIES
ABOUT THE RESIDENTS WHO WILL
NOT RETURN.
100 PEOPLE WANTED THEIR HOMES
BOUGHT OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT
AND THERE ARE ONLY 700 HOMES IN
THIS TOWN.
>> WE EXPECT TO SEE TROUBLING
TIMES FOR YEARS AFTERWARDS.
>> Reporter: THIS IS WHAT WAS
LEFT OF THE FIREHOUSE AFTER THE
FLOOD.
THE FIRE CHIEF DOESN'T BELIEVE
THEY SHOULD RETURN TO THIS
BUILDING IN THE FLOOD ZONE.
NOW THERE IS A PLAN TO MOVE TO
HIGHER GROUND.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
GROWING.
>> Reporter: EXPERTS MET TO
TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE RECENTLY.
THIS INCLUDES MOVING THE FIRE
STATION, TOWN HALL AND SCHOOLS
TO A 52 ACRE TRACT LESS LIKELY
TO FLOOD JUST MILES FROM
DOWNTOWN.>> WE HAVE TO KEEP THE
FUTURE IN MIND.
THAT WAY WE HAVE ROOM TO GROW.
>> Reporter: BUT NOT EVERYONE
IS SOLD ON THE IDEA.
NO MATTER WHERE THEY STAND MOST
AGREE ON THIS DAY
>> I STOP AT MY MAILBOX EVERY
DAY AND IT WAS A "I WILL BE
BACK."
THE HISTORY HERE IS DEEP.
AND IT WILL STAND.
WE WILL BE HERE.
WE HAVE HOPE AND WE KNOW THAT
GOD WILL BRING US BACK.>>> HERE
IN GOLDSBORO, THEY THOUGHT THEY
HAD SEEN THE WORST OF THE
FLOODING AFTER HURRICANE FLOAT
-- FLOYD.
THEN 17 YEARS LATER, HOMES
IMPACTED AGAIN.
SOME MORE THAT PEOPLE WILL
FORGET HOW MUCH THEY ARE STILL
SUFFERING.>> ONE OF MY FRIENDS
AT WRAP ME THE OTHER DAY AND
ASKED WHAT WE ARE DOING ABOUT
HARVEY AND I SAID JUST DON'T
FORGET ABOUT THE PEOPLE AFTER
MATTHEW.
MANY STILL NEED ASSISTANCE ONE
YEAR LATER.
THAT IS A LONG TIME FOR
RECOVERY.>> SIX TOWNS ARE
RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM THE
STATE.
MAIN STREET LOOKS LIKE A GHOST
TOWN HERE.
A CHINESE RESTAURANT IS THE
ONLY BUSINESS THAT REMAINS
OPEN.
SOUTHERN SPRINGS AND WAYNE
COUNTY IS ANOTHER TOWN ON THAT
LIST.
PEOPLE THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE
THE BEST OUT OF A DESPERATE
SITUATION.
>> Reporter: RECOVERY TAKES
MANY FORMS.>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> I AM ALL RIGHT.
>> Reporter: AT SOUTHERN
SPRINGS, HOME COOKING ON MAIN
STREET IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR
ORDERED.
THEY TOOK IN 62 INCHES OF WATER
LAST YEAR.
>> IT WAS ALL UNDERWATER.
COMPLETELY FLOODED.
>> WHEN THE FLOOD CAME IT
DESTROYED EVERYTHING HERE.
>> Reporter: THE LANDLORD SPENT
EIGHT MONTHS REPAIRING THE
BUILDING.
SO THE RESTAURANT OWNER COULD
REOPEN IN JUNE.
>> THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT
ACTS TOGETHER.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME IN AND
VISIT SO THEY CAN SEE
EVERYBODY.
>> THIS IS A GODSEND.
WE FINALLY HAVE A BUSINESS BACK
IN TOWN.>> Reporter: WHY DO YOU
KEEP GOING AND COMING BACK?
>> BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS PLACE.
MY FAMILY HAS LIVED OUT HERE
FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
>> Reporter: NOW HE RAISED THE
FOUNDATION AGAIN.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME NOW.
>> WE ELEVATED ABOUT FOUR FEET
UP.>> Reporter: 111 PEOPLE
LIVED HERE BEFORE THE STORM AND
NOW THERE ARE ONLY 50 PEOPLE.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 FLOOD
DAMAGED PROPERTIES WHERE THE
OWNERS ARE WAITING FOR THE FEMA
BUYOUT.
THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO REBUILD.
>> WE STILL HAVE 200 FAMILIES
DISPLACED.
>> Reporter: 17 MILES DOWN THE
ROAD IN THE CITY OF GOLDSBORO
WE SAW THE HARDEST HIT AREAS.
HOUSE AFTER HOUSE IS CONDEMNED.
THIS COMMUNITY HAS 108
HOMEOWNERS WAITING THE FEMA
BUYOUT.
>> ON THE BUYOUT PROGRAM, THE
BEST SCENARIO IS THREE YEARS.
PROBABLY MORE LIKE FIVE YEARS.
AT A FEDERAL LEVEL WE NEED TO
FIGURE OUT WHY WE CANNOT DO
THIS QUICKER.
>> Reporter: UNTIL THAT HAPPENS
THE MAYOR BELIEVES PEOPLE NEED
TO ELEVATE THEIR HOMES OR MOVE.
>> YOU ARE IN THE FLOODPLAIN .
IT WILL FLOOD AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW WIN.
BUT IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE UP TO
HIGHER GROUND THAT IS OUR GOAL.
>> IF YOU LIVE IN A FLOODPLAIN
YOU NEED TO FLOOD PROOF.>>
Reporter: THERE IS A UNIQUE
SURVIVAL PLAN FOR SOUTHERN
SPRINGS.
THE MAYOR WANTS TO REMOVE OLD
HOMES AND CONVERT EMPTY LOTS
INTO CAMPING SITES FOR THOSE
WHO WANT TO USE THE RIVER.
>> THE RIVER HAS BEEN OUR ENEMY
AND IT CAN BE OUR BEST
FRIEND.>> Reporter: IN THE
MEANTIME THEY WILL STILL KEEP
COOKING HOME COOKING.
SOUTHERN SPRINGS WILL SURVIVE,
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
>> WE WILL TRY TO MAKE IT AS
BEST WE CAN.
I AM NOT GOING TO USE THE
BUYOUT OPTION.>>> STILL AHEAD,
CHIEF METEOROLOGIST GREG FISHEL
TALKS ABOUT WHAT HE LEARNED
FROM MATTHEW ONE YEAR AGO.
YOU WERE HERE DOING LIVE
REPORTS AFTER THE STORM, RIGHT?
>> YES.
YOU COULD NOT WALK DOWN THIS
ENTIRE STREET . IT WAS
COMPLETELY UNDERWATER . IT WAS
ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THE
WATER HAD COME IN FROM THE
RIVER AND RECEDED.
BUT THE WATER JUST KIND OF SAT
THERE IN A BOWL SORT OF.
IT DID RECEDE A LITTLE BIT BUT
NOT ENOUGH FOR ANYBODY TO DRIVE
A CAR DOWN.
THIS LOOKS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
>> Reporter: WE SPEND A LOT OF
TIME IN THE STUDIO.
IN THE AFTERMATH, WHAT WAS YOUR
BIGGEST TAKE AWAY AFTER
WATCHING EVERYTHING UNFOLD ON
TV AND THEN COMING OUTSIDE?
>> I THINK IT WAS TUESDAY NIGHT
AFTER THE STORM THAT I TURN TO
YOU AND DAVID, IF I AM
REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, AND SAID
I WANTED TO GO DOWN THERE
BECAUSE I FELT CONCERN FOR THE
PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
AND I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEY WERE GOING THROUGH.
AND SO I FELT LIKE I HAD TO
COME DOWN AND SEE IT FIRSTHAND
TO SEE THE EFFECTS.
SO THEN I COULD SAY WITH
SINCERITY THAT I HAD AN
UNDERSTANDING AS TO HOW BAD IT
IS.
THAT WAY I COULD REACT HONESTLY
AND SINCERELY.
I SPOKE TO A WOMAN WHO WAS
SITTING IN A CAR.
HER HUSBAND WALKED THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO FIND OUT THAT
THEIR HOME HAD BEEN CONDEMNED.
SHE HAD MORE POSITIVITY AT THAT
TIME THEN PROBABLY I HAD IN THE
PAST MONTH.
SHE WAS CONVINCED THAT EVEN
THOUGH THEY HAD BEEN IN THE
HOME 35 YEARS AND THEY MAY
NEVER GO BACK, THAT SOMETHING
GOOD WAS GOING TO COME OUT OF
THIS POKERFACE WAS STRONG.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE
FACT THAT WE ARE IN THIS
TERRIBLE SITUATION, MAYBE THE
WORST OF THEIR LIVES, AND THEY
HAD SMILES ON THEIR FACES.
>> Reporter: WHAT HITS YOU ONE
YEAR NOW AFTER MATTHEW.
>> THE STREET, OBVIOUSLY, LOOKS
BETTER THAN IT DID WHEN I WAS
HERE.
BUT I AM SURE WHEN YOU GO
INSIDE HOMES AND TALK TO PEOPLE
THAT IS WHEN YOU FIND THE REAL
STORY.
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING.
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO
GO.>> Reporter: ONE WOMAN SAID
SHE PUT A BLANK UP -- BLANKET
UP.
SHE WANTED TO STAY IN HER
BEDROOM AND SHE WANTED TO PUT A
BLANKET UP TO KEEP HER SAFE
FROM THE MOLD.>> IT DOES MAKE
YOU WONDER.
IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN
FOCUS MORE ENERGY AND ATTENTION
ON THESE TYPES OF THINGS SO
THAT IT DOESN'T DRAG OUT SO
LONG?
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
ANSWER TO THAT IS.
BUT IT SURE SEEMS LIKE IT IS
SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR
A LONG TIME.
AND IT DOES NOT SEEM FAIR.
>> Reporter: ALSO PEOPLE ARE
EXPERIENCING ANXIETY EVERY TIME
THAT A TROPICAL SYSTEM FORMS IN
THE ATLANTIC.
WILL THE RIVERS RISE AGAIN?
CAN WE SURVIVE ANOTHER STORM?
PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY RESILIENT.
BUT THEY ARE ALSO VERY MUCH IN
RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE
MATTHEW.
WE HAVE MUCH MORE ON
WWW.jshu.net, INCLUDING HOW YOU
CAN GET RESOURCES TO HELP
RECOVER FROM HURRICANE MATTHEW.
OR ABOUT HOW TO VOLUNTEER IF
YOU WISH.
I AM DEBRA MORGAN.