Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee On the Storm We Forgot

This is the story of a beach storm no one saw coming—and the lessons we can’t afford to forget. In this episode of Storm Stories, Mayor Lynn Barbie of Carolina Beach helps us look back at the intense rainfall that hit Carolina Beach last year—a slow-motion disaster with no howling winds, no storm surge, just rising water and a community left to pick up the pieces. As the media focused on the devastating impacts of Helene and Milton, this storm and how it affected coastal North Carolina was easy to miss, as well as what happened after.

Three steps we can take to build resilience and foster community collaboration:

1. Advocate for Improved Stormwater Management

• Residents can attend town hall meetings and voice support for investments in stormwater infrastructure, including upgrading drainage systems, retention ponds, and permeable surfaces.

• Encourage local officials to apply for state and federal grants focused on flood mitigation.

2. Promote Community Flood Preparedness

• Form or join a local resilience task force to develop neighborhood-based flood preparedness plans.

• Organize workshops with local meteorologists and emergency managers to educate residents on flood insurance, evacuation procedures, and emergency supply kits.

3. Support Sustainable Land Use Policies

• Advocate for responsible zoning laws that limit development in low-lying, flood-prone areas.

• Encourage nature-based solutions like restoring wetlands, increasing green spaces, and maintaining coastal vegetation to absorb excess water.

• Partner with environmental organizations to monitor and maintain stormwater management systems.

Taking these steps would not only build resilience within the community but also foster collaboration between residents, policymakers, and environmental experts

Photographer: Callaghan O'Hare/Bloomberg via Getty Images