Two planning‑stage advisory bodies urged a sustained county response to flooding after Tropical Storm Chantal, offering immediate steps and mid‑term regulatory changes to reduce risk and improve community preparedness.

A small planning‑board working group earlier this fall produced a memorandum with recommendations that the full planning board approved and presented Oct. 20. The board urged the county to survey residents about impacts and awareness of flood risk, improve warning and road‑closure notification systems, and conduct public education about sheltering and evacuation options. The planning board also urged staff to inventory how current county subdivision and stormwater rules relate to extreme rainfall events and to identify ordinance language from the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that could be adopted or strengthened under current state law.

Elaine Chieso and other planning board members said the storm exposed how standard subdivision and stormwater controls — designed for a 25‑year storm in many places — were overwhelmed by an event with much higher localized intensity. They recommended short‑term investments in public outreach and clarification of county authority to strengthen standards where legally allowed; possible measures discussed included clarifying requirements for stormwater design thresholds, promoting tree protection and conservation subdivision features now rather than awaiting a delayed UDO, and seeking grant funding for bank stabilization and riparian improvements.

The county’s Environmental Review Advisory Committee (ERAC) also issued recommendations on Oct. 20. Former commissioner and ERAC member Diana Hales said ERAC supports strengthening watershed and tree‑protection sections of the UDO, pursuing funding for stream restoration and flood mitigation projects (including state pilot programs already funded in the Cape Fear basin), and establishing cross‑departmental working groups so emergency management, watershed protection, planning and public health coordinate regular outreach and mitigation work.

Both advisory panels encouraged the county to take a twofold approach: (1) immediate measures to help residents now — better emergency alerts, improved road‑closure information and a county survey to capture unreported damage — and (2) longer‑term regulatory and capital strategies, including ordinance amendments where legally permissible and state grant applications to fund bank stabilization and other infrastructure work.

Commissioners asked county staff to coordinate next steps with emergency management, planning, watershed protection and county counsel to identify legal options and costs; staff said a statewide Flood Resiliency Blueprint and existing tools from NC State and the state plan will be incorporated into county planning.

Advisory committee and planning board reports urged rapid follow‑up given climate projections of increased precipitation intensity in the Piedmont, and both groups recommended stronger public outreach and clarified expectations for developers and landowners as part of a broader resilience strategy.