Governor Josh Stein tours flood damage in Chapel Hill after Tropical Storm Chantal

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein visited Chapel Hill on Friday to tour flood damage the day after declaring a state of emergency for 13 counties to help storm victims get back on their feet after Tropical Storm Chantal.

That includes Wake, Chatham, Durham, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, and Alamance counties.

According to the governor, the state of emergency will help get the support the state needs and seek out potential funding to help communities rebuild.

"As recovery and cleanup efforts continue, I am grateful to the local and state emergency responders for their work to help keep people safe during the flash floods and in the aftermath of Chantal," said Governor Josh Stein. "Whether it's business owners at Eastgate Crossing or residents in Camelot Village, people are working hard to get back on their feet. We must do everything we can to support them and facilitate long-term recovery. And our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones."

During his visit, Stein got a closer look at the damage to Eastgate Crossing, which was one of the hardest hit areas.

Business owners filled multiple dumpsters with drywall that was ripped down and floors pulled up because of the damage.

The damage estimate at Eastgate sits at about $17 million.

"I've been pulling everything in and out, seeing what can be saved. And it's just like I've been doing so much physical work, where anything mental is just hasn't even factored in. I'm sure as soon as I'm done pulling everything out and salvaging what I can, I'll start the secondary process where I'll be looking into resources," said Christopher Arnet, whose business was damaged.

Just behind the shopping center is the plaza where Bert Johnson's business has been for decades.

He is the owner of Signs Now. His building had four feet of water inside from the flooding:

"All of our equipment, all our fixtures, all of our inventory. It's gone. Four feet of water came through our building and smashed through the glass door to the sandbags that we had put outside the front door ended up inside the store. That's how forceful this water was," Johnson recalled.

He is grateful that Gov. Stein declared a state of emergency for Orange County. and hopes this will speed up recovery efforts for small businesses like the one he owns.

"I think we deserve it. Obviously, Asheville was hit harder than we were after limited funds. There were limited funds. But a lot of small businesses here are going to have a hard time like me, you know, getting back up to speed," said Johnson.

Stein will also tour Camelot Village, where families were rescued from rising water.

The damage total in the apartment community is at about $3.1 million. ABC11 spoke with one of the neighbors there. He lost everything.

"It was just so devastating. I mean, we lost everything, but we still we still alive. And I'm just so grateful, you know, to it to be able to just be here. I mean, it hurts. It hurts so bad to lose everything, but you know, start over. It can happen," he said.