Storm Water Services Continues Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

When Hurricane Helene swept through the Catawba River watershed in 2024, it wasn’t just the storm that was catastrophic – it was the after-effects.  

A tight-knit community located below Mountain Island Lake dam marked by golf carts, bird songs, and neighbors greeting each other by name became the site of devastating flooding. Flooding from the Catawba River impacted about 170 homes in the floodplain, damaging 46 beyond the point of repair. Four homes below the Mountain Island Lake dam spillway on Upper Riverhaven Drive washed away completely.  

Once the flood waters receded, recovery efforts began. And efforts are still underway in the area both on and below Mountain Island Lake to help residents recover.  

The Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services program has been working with homeowners who chose to take buyouts or elevate their homes. The approximately $13.5 million effort not only helps affected residents but reduces future flood damages for the entire community.  

Learn about the flooding and how the retroFIT program helped one homeowner minimize impact to her home during Helene, as well as Mecklenburg County’s ongoing efforts in the area.