The body of a woman reported missing in Orange County was recovered Monday afternoon by search crews, marking the county\u2019s first fatality from Tropical Depression Chantal\u2019s severe weather.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Monday, Orange County Emergency Services held a press conference to share several updates on its ongoing response. At the time, authorities said no fatalities had been reported \u2014 but a Person County resident had been reported missing in the Cedar Grove community. A release from the Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Office Monday night later confirmed she had been found dead at approximately 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
According to the release, which said the storm victim will be identified later, the woman went missing while on her way to work on Sunday night during the heavy rainfall. Orange County sheriff\u2019s deputies initial found her unoccupied vehicle early Monday morning along Wilkerson Road near Whitetail Run, which is north of Hillsborough.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we hoped for a different outcome,\u201d said Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said, We offer our deepest condolences to the victim\u2019s family, friends, and colleagues at this terribly sad time, and we ask for people to give them privacy as they process this tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the area continues assessing storm damage, the Orange County government opened a public, mass-care shelter for those on Monday displaced by the storm. Orange County Emergency Services coordinated a transition for those being helped at the Seymour Center on Sunday night to Smith Middle School at 9201 Seawell School Road in Chapel Hill. Now, anyone who has been displaced by the flash flooding caused by Tropical Depression Chantal\u2019s rain, or those who are unable to safely remain in their homes, are encouraged to use the facility.<\/p>\n
The site is being operated by the county\u2019s emergency management team, social services department, Animal Services and the American Red Cross, and will available 24 hours for anyone in need.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a place for people to get safe refuge if they\u2019ve been displaced and work with DSS social works, case workers, and disaster survivor assistance nonprofits as well to get them started on the path to recovery,\u201d Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders said during the press conference. \u201cI don\u2019t have a definitive timeframe on how long the shelter will be open, but I\u2019ll say we generally keep them open as long as necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFollowing 5\u20139 inches of rainfall across Orange County and the surrounding area from Tropical Depression Chantal, significant flooding has been reported, prompting Orange County Government to open an emergency shelter for displaced residents. https:\/\/t.co\/b45RVI9xaC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Xnuxx4SofY<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Orange County NC Gov (@OCNCGOV) July 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
As part of the relief effort, Orange County Public Transportation is available to provide transit to the shelter. Those in need of a ride can call 919-245-2004 to request one and coordinate a pick-up.<\/p>\n
The county said at Smith Middle, pets are welcome as long as certain guidelines are followed. Residents must bring proof of full vaccination for their pets, a photo of the pet\u2019s owner and a supply of the pet\u2019s food \u2014 adding there is a chance pets could be housed in a separate area from their owners.<\/p>\n
During Monday\u2019s media availability, Saunders said around half a dozen injuries had been reported from the severe flooding and storm damage, but first responders\u2019 work helped prevent many more. The emergency services director detailed how one neighborhood, the Lake Orange community north of Hillsborough, is isolated as of Monday afternoon due to a road below the dam suffering \u201ccatastrophic damage.\u201d Saunders said his crews are in touch with the residents there and everyone can get out on foot, while the North Carolina Department of Transportation creates a plan to make emergency repairs to the road.<\/p>\n
The county\u2019s 911 call center fielded roughly 8,000 calls from 7 p.m. Sunday to 3 a.m. Monday, according to Saunders, most of which were about flooding, storm damage and related dangers. The county\u2019s staff and regional partners conducted more than 60 swift water rescues, many of which happened Sunday night and one from Monday morning from a vehicle that drove into a flooded roadway.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur teams really go incident by incident, prioritization of greatest need first,\u201d Saunders said, \u201cand that\u2019s what we did yesterday \u2014 conducting those rescues swiftly, professionally, and without regard to their own personal safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny water rescue is dangerous and inherently challenging itself,\u201d he added. \u201cDoing so in the dark, while the rain is coming down with such force as it was yesterday is even more challenging, and so we send strong applause and appreciation to all of our first response partners throughout Orange County. I don\u2019t know, personally, of a fire department in Orange County that did not respond to a water-related incident yesterday or [overnight].\u201d<\/p>\n
Saunders asked residents who wish to report non-emergency damage to share that through the county\u2019s webpage<\/a>, and said emergency services is establishing a public information line residents can call to get more updates on the ongoing response or questions around resources.<\/p>\n
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Editor\u2019s Note: This story initially said Orange County was reporting no fatalities from Sunday\u2019s storm. It has since been updated to reflect the Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Office\u2019s confirmation of finding the missing, deceased woman.<\/p>\n
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