Willie Johnson has been driving 30 minutes from his hometown in New Bern, NC to the more rural area of Trenton, NC for nine years. His congregation is there – in a church located within ‘the bowl’ of Back Street. Many of his parishioners have weathered all of North Carolina’s storms. And geographically, African American communities within Trenton have often received the most damage. But most of the county’s relief funding decision-makers are white. Johnson has seen the situation become increasingly dire.

Flood Zone is a special investigation reporting on flooding in Coastal Carolina communities. The podcast is a project of Shoresides and Working Narratives.

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“I can only imagine what my parents had to go through for that land.” Gwendolyn Brown grew up in Back Street, a long-time African American community in Trenton, NC. When you enter the neighborhood, you pull off of ‘Backstreet Road’, go down a gravel hill, and enter what Brown calls ‘a bowl.’ She is familiar with the topography, because with every storm, her neighborhood floods. Due to flooding, Brown is one of only two families left in what was once a vibrant, historical neighborhood.

Flood Zone is a special investigation reporting on flooding in Coastal Carolina communities. The podcast is a project of Shoresides and Working Narratives.

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Beverly Johnson's family bought land by the river in Trenton, NC early in the 20th century. Land ownership options then were limited for African Americans families. Inheriting land in a flood zone was not Johnson's choice, but she does see many white families in Trenton these days choosing to buy waterfront property. 

Flood Zone is a special investigation reporting on flooding in Coastal Carolina communities. The podcast is a project of Shoresides and Working Narratives.

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Helen Barrett from Episode 3 shares a poem she wrote about sharing a birthday with Hurricane Florence. Two years since her house flooded with three feet of water, Barrett is still not in her home.

Flood Zone is a special investigation reporting on flooding in Coastal Carolina communities. The podcast is a project of Shoresides and Working Narratives.

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Helen Barrett drove school buses in New Bern, NC for 25 years. In early adulthood, she saw the fire of 1922 change the landscape of her city – pushing African Americans from downtown. Now she's seeing the same zoning patterns in the wake of Hurricane Florence.

Flood Zone is a special investigation reporting on flooding in Coastal Carolina communities. The podcast is a special project of Shoresides and Working Narratives.

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Eric Brown is from Back Street, a once thriving African American community named for being the opposite to downtown in Trenton, NC. Back Street has nearly been wiped out from repeated hurricane flooding. Brown built a second home to run from the water, but what will become of his family's homestead?

Flood Zone is a special investigation reporting on flooding in Coastal Carolina communities. The podcast is a special project of Shoresides and Working Narratives.

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Fanny Irving has lived in Trenton all of her life. She lives in the home that from 1971 - 1975 she built with her late husband. First Floyd, and now Florence, have taken that home from her. 

Flood Zone is a special investigation reporting on flooding in Coastal Carolina communities. The podcast is a special project of Shoresides and Working Narratives.

Help keep community stories alive at the coast. Give today: https://givebutter.com/to7as6

Support the show