CHATHAM COUNTY, NC — As hurricane season begins, Chatham County is encouraging residents to help improve local flood awareness and resilience by using the County's new Flood Incidents Dashboard and Reporting Application.

Developed through a collaborative effort involving Chatham County GIS, the Manager's Office, Emergency Operations, Watershed Protection, Planning, and other County departments, the application provides a centralized, user-friendly way for residents to report flooding and drainage concerns throughout the county. Residents are encouraged to use the application throughout hurricane season and year-round.

At its October 20, 2025, meeting, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners directed staff to develop a community flood reporting tool following a recommendation from the Chatham County Environmental Review Advisory Committee to create online tools for community flood reporting.

The application is designed to support coordination across County departments, including Emergency Operations, Watershed Protection, Planning, and GIS. Information submitted by residents will serve as an additional data source to complement existing flood mapping and storm response efforts.
Over time, the collected data will help build a more complete understanding of flood-prone areas, identify recurring flooding concerns, improve operational decision-making, and support long-term planning and resilience initiatives.

The Flood Incidents Dashboard displays flooding locations reported by community members across Chatham County. Reports are self-submitted and may vary in accuracy, detail, and timing. The presence of a report does not indicate a verified flood event or an assessment of risk by Chatham County.

County departments use the information to:
• Identify patterns and recurring flooding concerns.
• Inform operational decisions, maintenance, and planning efforts.
• Improve coordination across departments and with community partners.
• Support long-term planning and resilience initiatives.

Residents are encouraged to submit reports when they experience or observe flooding and drainage issues. Community participation will help County staff better understand flooding impacts countywide and strengthen preparedness efforts for future storm events.

For more information on flooding and flood prevention resources, visit https://flood.nc.gov or the Chatham County website.