DURHAM, N.C. — Flooding along the Eno River during Tropical Storm Chantal has forced a Durham County family out of their home.
Kendra Lewis’ in-laws live on Rippling Stream Road, and behind their home is the Eno River.
Lewis said the river flooded its banks during this weekend’s storm and left the family’s home in ruins.
“We had a chest, a freezer in there. It was literally floating, and the water was all the way at the door,” she said.
Heavy rains from Chantal on Sunday pushed the Eno to a major flood stage, prompting rescues in Durham.
Lewis said her in-laws' neighborhood saw the worst flooding a little after midnight Sunday.
She said she got a call from the neighbor telling her to get out of the area. An hour after the call, Lewis said water began rushing into the home.
“Within seconds, within seconds,” she said.
Every room in the house was soaked, and most of the furniture was ruined.
“It’s all muddy,” she said.
Lewis said she and her in-laws, who are in their 70s and have health issues, knew there was nothing they could do other than grab a few things and evacuate.
She said they stayed on the front porch, stranded and waiting for help as the water continued to rise.
“I just started waving because that's all I could do. I can't go out there because, you know, it was just too strong,” Lewis said. “So I just started a waving, and we started yelling for help. And then also we heard the boat coming up.”
Since the storm, the family has been sleeping at a local church.
Lewis said an insurance company representative has come out to assess the damage to the house. But she said they’re still waiting to hear from the car insurance company.