BLADENBORO, N.C. (WECT) – After Tropical Storm Debby, leaders in Bladenboro are continuing the conversation about what can be done to help businesses that saw flood damage.

During the storm, Bladenboro was put under a flash flood emergency. Neighbors and business owners on Main Street say the water rose to high levels in just a few minutes.

Other residents explained that flooding has been a reoccurring issue.

Bladenboro Town Commissioner Terry Nance says the town is working to bring the area up above the floodplain. The goal is to rebuild the businesses on Main Street four- to five-feet higher.

He says the people who work along Main Street call the area home and are loyal to Bladenboro despite the floods, but that might not always be the case.

“As these people grow and get older, they are going to come to a place where they want to retire. It’s going to be hard to sell this business to somebody who is not committed to Bladenboro, knowing that it floods. So we need to look long-term down the road,” said Nance.

The project is still in the beginning stages and could take at least 18 months to complete once it gets started. Nance says the first part of the project was the new Town Square which is built above the floodplain. He hopes that eventually all businesses on Main Street will be able to withstand storms.

“We’re going to keep this ball rolling one way or the other. It can roll downhill and get some momentum or we can push it uphill, but we’re not going to settle here, we have a goal in mind and that’s where we’re headed,” said Nance.

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