SAXAPAHAW, N.C. (WFMY) – Longtime residents of Saxapahaw are no strangers to the Haw River levels rising since the community is right in the floodplain.
It has seen some devastating flooding from storms, like the flood in 1945 and another in 1996 from Hurricane Fran.
Proof of them are markers on the Cotton Shed building of the old River Mill in the heart of Saxapahaw.
Another threat, the dam located a few miles up the road.
Needless to say, not being in the direct path of Hurricane Florence has brought residents both seasoned and new a bit of calm.
“For a lot of other people this will be their first flood,” said Heather LaGarde, co-owner of the Haw River Ballroom. “This would have been the first big one, we hope it won’t be.”
Ted Teague has only lived in Saxapahaw for about two years. He’s glad his landlords are taking precautions.
“I live just over there where the sandbags are,” Teague said pointing to the Cotton Shed building. “Better to keep the water out if we can.”
Earlier this week, the Haw River Canoe & Kayak Company sent out a call on Facebook for members of the community willing to help them move their gear and files out of their facility, also located right in the floodplain.
In fact, a 1996 picture by Steven Durland shows the Community Center, where the kayak company’s office is located, surrounded by the over-flooded Haw River.
LaGarde says the community rallied to help the small business move their stuff to higher ground.
“Volunteers and calls on social media went out to help these folks get any of the businesses that are in the floodplain or below out of their spaces and people came from all over and help,” LaGarde said.
Just past the bridge, the Saxapahaw United Methodist Church, also in the floodplain, is prepared for whatever comes.
According to Sue Eldon, the church’s pastor, the time it’s taken the storm to make it inland has given them an advantage.
“It’s been like a whole week making sure the elderly are okay, people have the medications for however long, and what are we going to do if we lost power,” Eldon shared. “We’ve had time to have those conversations.”
LaGarde told WFMY the Haw River Ballroom has opened its doors as an unofficial shelter for Saxapahaw residents in need during the storm.
“I think, just like everyone in North Carolina, we have been waiting for this slow monster to get here and no one knows what it means or who gets hit,” said LaGarde.
For now, it’s just that: a waiting game.
“I don’t think there’s anything we can do right now except wait and see what happens, we’re ready,” Eldon explained.
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