August 5, 2025
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Through: Mr. Robert P. Ashe, Acting Regional Administrator
FEMA Region IV
3005 Chamblee Tucker Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30341
Dear Mr. President:
Pursuant to Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and 44 CFR § 206.36, I request that you declare a major disaster declaration for the State of North Carolina due to the impacts of Tropical Depression Chantal (Chantal). The severity and magnitude of damage from Chantal, which caused flooding and tornadoes across central North Carolina and resulted in the deaths of six residents from July 6-7, 2025, exceeds local and state capacity to completely and effectively respond. Accordingly, I am requesting all categories of Public Assistance for seven (7) counties: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Moore, Orange, and Person. Additionally, I am requesting statewide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) assistance.
According to the National Weather Service, Chantal developed off the coast of Florida as a tropical depression on July 4, 2025. Chantal remained disorganized until strengthening to 60 mph winds on July 6, 2025, just before making landfall in Litchfield Beach, South Carolina. Chantal continued northward to North Carolina, spawning tornadoes and generating flash and riverine flooding in the State’s central region. Rainfall in some areas reached eight inches. Prolonged and intense rainfall led to cresting of the Eno and Haw Rivers and overwhelmed stormwater systems.
More than 100 roads became impassable due to flooding, washouts, sinkholes, and structural damage. Damage to roads was especially severe in Alamance, Chatham, Orange, and Person counties. Several rail corridors, including those used by CSX and Norfolk Southern, were temporarily shut down due to track washouts and bridge damage. Power outages initially affected nearly 30,000 customers but were gradually restored through coordinated utility efforts.
In Durham County, record flooding along the Eno River inundated neighborhoods. Emergency services conducted more than 80 water rescues with assistance from surrounding jurisdictions. The county activated its Emergency Operations Center, opened temporary shelters, and later transitioned affected residents to hotels supported by the Red Cross and the local Department of Social Services. In response to the event, Durham County declared a State of Emergency.
Nearby Chapel Hill also experienced intense flash flooding, particularly in low-lying residential and commercial areas. Orange County and Chapel Hill officials supported over 50 rescues in collaboration with local fire departments. Shelter operations in Chapel Hill were established to accommodate displaced residents, who were later moved to longer-term housing in hotels. Orange County also saw widespread flooding in Carrboro and Hillsborough, with the Hillsborough water treatment plant offline for several days. Boil water advisories were issued, and a major wastewater overflow impacted the Eno River. Orange County established recovery assistance centers and waived tipping fees for storm-related debris through August. Orange County declared a State of Emergency on July 6, 2025.
Numerous roads, bridges, and culverts were damaged or destroyed in Alamance County. Sinkholes were reported in multiple residential areas. Water service was interrupted in parts of Mebane, which initially operated under Stage 5 mandatory water restrictions before restoring treatment operations. Alamance County declared a State of Emergency on July 6, 2025.
Person County, which dealt with structural damage to homes and roads as well as at least eight sinkholes, declared its own State of Emergency on July 7, 2025. Person County also initiated localized evacuations and recovery in coordination with the state.
In Chatham County, significant rainfall led to flash flooding, temporary shelter openings, and support operations managed in conjunction with regional partners. Moore County, too, reported flash flooding and dam monitoring activity, particularly near the Longleaf Dam and other critical infrastructure. Moore County declared a State of Emergency on July 6, 2025.
Across all counties, wastewater systems were strained, but environmental hazards and contamination were mitigated through timely interventions.
Six fatalities are confirmed to have resulted from Chantal. On the evening of Sunday, July 6, 2025, an 83-yearold woman from Chatham County was killed, and a Person County woman on her way to work in Orange County died. Two boaters went missing in Chatham County on Jordan Lake. The first body was found the morning of Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The second was recovered on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Two deaths were reported in Alamance County: a man in the City of Mebane and a 23-year-old woman in the City of Graham.
Additionally, numerous water rescues were conducted during the storm, including of an 80-year-old couple who struggled to get to their attic and were trapped there.
By mid-July, all emergency shelters had closed, and displaced residents were placed in hotels. Damage assessments began across the region for both public infrastructure and private property as the response shifted into a coordinated recovery phase.
Actions Under State Law and Implementation of the State Emergency Operations Plan
Consistent with 44 C.F.R. § 206.36, I took appropriate action under state law to respond to this situation. On July 16, 2025, I declared a state of emergency in Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Randolph, and Wake counties. As part of the July 16, 2025, declaration, I directed the execution of the state emergency operations plan retroactive to July 5, 2025, when the State Emergency Response Team was activated to support this event, in accordance with Section 401(a) of the Stafford Act. In addition, as mentioned above, Alamance, Durham, Moore, Person, and Orange counties all declared local states of emergency.
Nature and Amount of State and Local Resources that Have Been, or Will Be Used To Alleviate the Impact of this Incident.
The North Carolina State Emergency Response Team and the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management Central Regional Coordination Center were activated in Enhanced Watch status to support local and state response and recovery efforts related to Chantal from July 5, 2025, through July 17, 2025.
The following information is provided regarding the nature and amount of state and local resources that have been or will be used to alleviate the conditions of the disaster:
- I activated the State Emergency Response Team to support and coordinate local and state response efforts on July 5, 2025.
- Six emergency operations centers were activated or partially activated.
- Ten county and municipal states of emergency were declared.
- One regional urban search and rescue team was deployed.
- Several shelters were opened to house survivors.
- The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality committed resources for water testing during the event.
- The North Carolina Department of Insurance held pop-up events in affected neighborhoods.
- The North Carolina Department of Transportation monitored, marked, closed, and began repairing many roads.
- The North Carolina Division of Emergency Management deployed teams to survey damage.
I have also taken several steps to assist North Carolinians impacted by Chantal. On July 24, 2025, I applied for Small Business Administration assistance. The SBA granted that assistance on July 25, 2025. On August 5, 2025, I declared a Type I Disaster pursuant to North Carolina’s Emergency Management Act. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.21(b)(1). Pursuant to this declaration, the State is providing individual assistance to residents of the disaster area comparable in type and amount to the individual assistance available under the Stafford Act. See id. § 166A-19.41(b)(1).
Joint FEMA-State Public Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessment
Preliminary Damage Assessments of the impacted area were conducted beginning July 28, 2025, and were completed on July 31, 2025. All the requested counties have met or exceeded their respective minimum per capita cost indicators for declaration. The survey evidenced significant and catastrophic damage to roads, bridges, state property, critical infrastructure, and other recreational facilities. The attached preliminary damage estimates total $42,297,750.00, which is more than twice the minimum state indicator of $19,730,443.32 or $1.89 per capita.
Disaster History
Over the past 60 months, state and local emergency management agencies have responded to Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024, which caused $60 billion in damage in North Carolina, along with other federally declared major disasters, emergency declarations, and Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) events. These include five (5) FMAGs in March and April 2025 for western North Carolina wildfires, Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight in October 2024, Tropical Storm Debby in August 2024, Tropical Storm Fred in August 2021, Tropical Storm Eta in November 2020, Hurricane Isaias from July to August 2020, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, and severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in February 2020. The state has issued thirteen disaster declarations in the last two years, with the most recent in July 2025. The state has responded to weather events impacting several counties, including Tropical Depression Chantal (July 2025), Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight (September 2024), the City of Marion (McDowell-2024), City of Newton (Catawba-2023), City of Rocky Mount (Nash-2023), Catawba County (2024), Gaston County (2024), Town of Cherryville (Gaston-2023), Town of Dortches (Nash-2023), Town of Elkin (Surry-2023), Town of Landis (Rowan-2023), Town of West Jefferson (Ashe-2024), and Village of Cedar Rock (Caldwell-2023).
Based on all of these factors, and pursuant to 44 CFR § 206.36, I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to supplement the efforts and available resources of the State, local governments, disaster relief organizations, and compensation by insurance for disaster-related losses.
I have designated William C. Ray as the State Coordinating Officer for this request. He will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and will provide further information or justification on my behalf.
I appreciate your support and recognition of the State’s need for Federal support in its response to this event.
Sincerely,
Josh Stein
Governor
Enclosures: FEMA Form 010-0-13
Preliminary Damage Assessment
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