Water rescue: Over 20 people displaced from Raleigh townhomes impacted by heavy flooding

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— Raleigh police were reportedly assisting with a water rescue near an apartment complex after an early-morning downpour on Saturday.

The WRAL Stormtracker captured video from Brook Hill Townhomes on Dana Drive in Raleigh, close to where the rescue was taking place. Rescue crews could be seen preparing inflatable boats to use in the flooded roadway and parking lot.

Video and photos sent by Taha and Ali Rahmani from the scene showed multiple vehicles submerged.

After residents were rescued from the flood waters, Red Cross disaster-trained volunteers helped 23 people from 12 townhome units by providing financial assistance for food, clothing, lodging, lost medications and other essentials.

This is far from the first time the Brook Hill Townhomes, situated in a flood plain near Walnut Creek, have been visited by water rescue teams. WRAL News has coverage dating back as early as 2009, when renters were surprised to learn their homes were in a flood plain.

Floodwaters near the water rescue near Dana Drive in Raleigh. Image credit: Taha and Ali Rahmani

The complex was built in 1967 – 10 years before the city flood maps were produced. The property owner did not take a buyout, later offered by the Federal Emergency Management.

Officials said the apartments also flooded in 2006. Many renters have lost possessions during storms, not realizing they would have benefited from flood insurance in their current home.

brookhill apartmetns in raleigh

Raleigh police also posted photos on their Twitter showing significant flooding at West Gate and Fast Park Drive, as well as a downed tree on Dixon Drive.

Raleigh police tweeted this image of a drowned tree on Dixon Drive. Image courtesy of Raleigh Police.

Be cautious if driving near any of these areas, as isolated flash flooding is possible around the Triangle this morning.

Wake County was under a Flash Flood Warning until 10:45 a.m. after parts of the county saw between 2 to 4 inches of rainfall in the past six hours overnight.

Forecasted rainfall

WRAL News is working to learn more about the water rescue, and will report more as details are released.