City Connect: Storm Resource and Recovery Updates

Bo's Bulletin

Weather Cleanup Underway

July has certainly gotten off to a dramatic and difficult start in Durham.

I hope you were able to enjoy some of the Independence Day weekend before we saw a significant impact from Tropical Storm Chantal. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, and serious flooding to parts of our city.

We know that for many in our area - especially our neighbors in the Old Farm community - this storm was not just an inconvenience but had a devastating impact.

More than 80 residents in Old Farm had to be rescued by boat Monday morning, and dozens more evacuated on foot. Cars were submerged, trees uprooted, and personal belongings damaged or lost. We know how deeply unsettling and emotional this experience has been, and our hearts go out to everyone affected.

We have launched our Severe Weather Updates and Resources web page to help connect residents to disaster recovery assistance, safe spaces with internet access, and updates on City services - including free storm damage cleanup. Please visit our website if you or someone you know needs support.

Moments like these remind us what it means to be a community. I want to take a moment to say thank you to the many City employees and emergency responders across Durham County who acted quickly to help those in need and who continue working across Durham and neighboring communities still recovering from the storm. We will continue coordinating our efforts across the City and County to deliver the best support we can.

Debris Collection

Our Environmental and Street Services team is offering free yard debris pickup for storm-related cleanup. If you have been clearing fallen limbs or damaged landscaping, place yard waste debris curbside and submit a collection request through Durham One Call.

For safe and timely pickup:

• Cut larger limbs to no more than 3 inches in diameter and 6 feet in length.
• Be sure the pile contains only yard waste - no trash or non-natural materials.

Hurricane Season

This week's storm activity is a good reminder that we're entering the peak of hurricane season. Now is the time to make sure your household is ready:

1. Weather Alerts: Sign up for emergency alerts from AlertDurham.
2. Emergency Kit: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends having an emergency kit including food, water, medication, and important documents for everyone in your household, including pets.
3. Emergency Plan: An emergency plan can serve your family by putting important phone numbers and other important local information in one place.

We will continue cleanup and repairs in the days ahead. Please know that your City team is here for you, and we remain committed to helping each part of Durham recover and prepare for whatever comes next.

Bo

- City Manager Bo Ferguson