Catawba Co. families continue cleanup after flooding

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Chuck Rananto of Catawba County showed Eyewitness News the flood damage at his home.

"The door busted open and all the water went rushing in," he said.

He and his wife watched helplessly as the tiny creek behind their house rose and broke into their home.

They continued to clean Wednesday, brought restoration crews in and updated the county on their damage.

"Emergency services came out and did an assessment on the house basically to see what kind of damage did we have," Rananto said.

"The numbers are climbing faster than we are able to send folks out and check on people," said Karyn Yaussy, the Catawba County Emergency Management coordinator.

Yaussy said assessment teams from four other counties have come to help.

State and federal assessors were also in the area Wednesday. They are looking to see if there is enough damage in the county for home and business owners to possibly qualify for aid.

Yaussy said the federal government could possibly offer low- and no-interest loans. The state could possibly offer individual assistance like grants.

Eyewitness News met up with the team as it documented the damage at the Hickory Foundation YMCA. YMCA officials said water came inside and ran through the halls, even into workout rooms. Right now classes are being moved as crews clean up the moisture. It still doesn't know how much the repairs will cost but estimates it could be six figures.

As the county waits to hear from the state and federal governments about possible aid, it is in constant contact with the National Weather Service. It's concerned about more weather to come.

"Even an inch of rain on already swollen creeks and streams could flood some of these houses all over again, go over the banks and make more damage," Yaussy said.

Rananto hopes that rain leaves the creek where it is and that state and federal officials see that Catawba County needs help.

"Catawba County is really hurting right now," Rananto said.