Governor Josh Stein participated in a dedication ceremony for a new floodgate in Lumberton on October 7, 2026, an event held to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Matthew. During the ceremony, he emphasized the critical need to bolster infrastructure in order to better prepare for future storms.
“North Carolinians understand the importance of building stronger infrastructure to protect against severe weather, and the twin tragedies of Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence made clear the need in Robeson County,” Stein stated. He noted that the floodgate aims to safeguard lives, homes, and local businesses.
Hurricane Matthew, which devastated North Carolina a decade ago, resulted in the loss of 25 lives and significant flooding that displaced countless residents and caused extensive damage. The newly installed floodgate is designed to enhance protection for Lumberton’s residents and its industrial sector. This initiative is part of a larger $15 million project supported by various entities, including:
- North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program
- North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant – Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) program
- Golden LEAF Foundation
- North Carolina General Assembly Special Appropriation
- U.S. Economic Development Administration
Stein has reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing infrastructure across the state to protect against extreme weather and facilitate growth. Last year, he announced $6 million in grants from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint program aimed at reducing flood risks statewide.
Flood Resiliency Blueprint Initiative
The North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint is a comprehensive, science-based initiative that emphasizes stakeholder involvement to aid in planning, evaluating, and implementing flood resilience strategies. This initiative represents the largest investment in flood mitigation in the history of North Carolina. It provides local governments and other entities with the necessary data, tools, and methodologies to make informed investments aimed at reducing flood risks, funding priority projects, and addressing gaps in mitigation strategies.
In accordance with directives from the North Carolina General Assembly, the Blueprint has allocated $76 million to support flood mitigation efforts, including water retention, floodplain restoration, and nature-based solutions in several river basins, including Cape Fear, French Broad, Lumber, Neuse, Tar Pamlico, and White Oak. Additionally, Governor Stein has initiated over $1.8 billion in water infrastructure projects statewide to enhance resilience and reduce contamination from hazardous substances like PFAS.
Source: Office of the Governor of North Carolina
