Governor Stein highlights flood resiliency at Lumberton floodgate dedication
LUMBERTON, NC (WWAY) — Gov. Josh Stein joined officials in Lumberton to dedicate a new floodgate and highlight efforts to strengthen infrastructure against future storms.
The dedication comes 10 years after Hurricane Matthew caused widespread flooding across North Carolina, including in Robeson County.
Hurricane Matthew killed 25 people in North Carolina and caused significant flooding and damage across the state. In Lumberton, the new floodgate is designed to provide additional protection for residents and businesses in the city’s industrial sector.
“North Carolinians understand the importance of building stronger infrastructure to protect against severe weather, and the twin tragedies of Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence made clear the need in Robeson County,” Stein said. “Lumberton’s new floodgate will save lives, protect people’s homes, and preserve their livelihoods.”
The floodgate is part of a $15 million collaborative project funded through several state and federal sources, including the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program, the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant-Neighborhood Revitalization program, the Golden LEAF Foundation, a North Carolina General Assembly special appropriation and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Stein’s administration has also highlighted other efforts to reduce flood risks across North Carolina.
In 2025, Stein announced $6 million in grants through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint program for projects aimed at reducing flood risks.
The NC Flood Resiliency Blueprint is a statewide initiative that uses data and stakeholder input to help guide flood mitigation planning and investments.
The program includes $76 million in funding for flood mitigation projects in the Cape Fear, French Broad, Lumber, Neuse, Tar-Pamlico and White Oak river basins. Projects can include water retention, floodplain restoration and nature-based flood mitigation.
The governor’s office also said Stein has advanced more than $1.8 billion in water infrastructure projects statewide, including efforts focused on drinking water, wastewater infrastructure, resilience and reducing contamination from PFAS.
