Cumberland County homes destroyed by Matthew

Floodwaters started receding in Cumberland County on Monday, but residents were left overwhelmed by the cleaning up and rebuilding they now face.
Posted 10/11/2016, 2:36:30 AM Updated 9/23/2025, 7:51:31 PM

>> CANDACE SWEAT, THANK YOU.

>>> >. AND CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS

STILL SEEING THREATS WHILE

TRYING TO OVERCOME THE DAMAGE

ALREADY HAPPENING THERE.

>> KEN SMITH HAS HOW PEOPLE ARE

COPING TONIGHT.

>> REPORTER: IN IN FRONT OF THE

CAPE FEAR RIVER THAT'S RECEDED

RIGHT NOW, BUT RIGHT AFTER

HURRICANE MATTHEW IT DID DAMAGE

DOWNSTREAM.

THE REMNANTS OF LIVES THEY

BUILT IN THIS HOUSE ARE NOW A

SOGGY MESS.

>> I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WOULDN'T

GET UP THIS HILL.

>> REPORTER: BUT THE FLOOD

WATERS DID GET UP HAD.

>> >. I I MOVED HERE IN 87.

>> REPORTER: RUINING ALMOST 30

YEARS OF FAMILY KEEPSAKES,

MOMENTOS, MEMORIES.

>> YOU GO IN A ROOM, AND

THERE'S NOTHING.

YOU HAVE FURNISH ALL IN PIECES

AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE

ROOM OR IN ANOTHER ROOM.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND

IT.

>> REPORTER: FROM THE FRONT

YARD THE DEVASTATION FROM THE

FLOODING IS NEIGHBORHOOD WIDE.

VERY FEW HOMES SPARED BY THE

RISING FLOOD WATERS.

>> SATURDAY MORNING IT WAS UP

TO THIS POST RIGHT HERE.

>> REPORTER: ACROSS TOWN IN

FAYETTEVILLE THIS IS WHAT'S

LEFT OF AARON LAKE.

THE FRONT WATERS CUTTING A HOLE

THROUGH THE ROAD AND INCHING

INTO THIS MAN'S BACKYARD, AND

TAKING AWAY A FEW THINGS WITH

IT.

>> IT TOOK A BOAT AND BENCH AND

THE LAWN MOWER AND TOOK IT DOWN

TO THE RIVER.

I FOUND MY BOAT.

>> REPORTER: A MUCH DIFFERENT

OUTCOME FOR MRS. JACOBS,

SADDENED BY THE FLOOD THAT'S

RESHAPED THE LIFE'S SHE'S

BUILT, BUT STILL KEEPING THE

FAITH.

>> THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT

WILL BE CLEANED AND SAVED, BUT

JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IS GONE.

>> REPORTER: HEART BREAKING FOR

HER, BUT SHE AND HER NEIGHBORS

INCLUDING HER BROTHER ACROSS

THE STREET ALL PLAN TO REBUILD.

KEN SMITH, WRAL NEWS,