Repeated Flooding Highlights Disaster Policy Gaps in North Carolina Mobile Home Parks
• The Hyder Mountain Road mobile home park in Clyde, North Carolina, has experienced four major floods in the past 20 years, including catastrophic events during Hurricane Frances in 2004, Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, and Hurricane Helene in
• Despite federal floodplain maps identifying the area as high-risk, the park continues to operate, with new tenants moving into flood-prone lots. The federal buyout program, designed to mitigate disaster risks, often excludes mobile homes, leaving residents vulnerable to repeated flooding. Local authorities have not taken steps to prevent the reoccupation of these hazardous areas, and mobile home park owners have shown little interest in participating in buyout programs. The situation underscores significant gaps in disaster management policies, particularly for mobile home communities, which are a critical source of affordable housing in the United States.
Impact & Risks
Residents of the Hyder Mountain Road mobile home park face ongoing risks of catastrophic flooding, as evidenced by four major flood events in the past two decades. Hurricane Helene in 2024 caused severe damage, including the loss of a mobile home and the tragic death of a resident. The lack of effective disaster mitigation policies for mobile home parks leaves families vulnerable to property loss, displacement, and life-threatening conditions. The continued reoccupation of flood-prone lots exacerbates these risks, with recreational campers now occupying areas previously devastated by floods.
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