Safeguards and measures put in place to prevent damage caused during the August, 2012 flood have worked thus far after between 4 ½ to 6 inches of rain fell in the city in the last 24 hours, Roanoke Rapids officials said.

The only damage reported in the wake of the heavy rains was a plastic vault that broke through the ground at Cedarwood Cemetery. The headstone was not harmed.

“The work done in the last year and a half left us with few problems,” City Manager Joseph Scherer said today. That includes work at Rochelle Pond and other areas impacted by the flooding, he said.

Public Works Director Larry Chalker, who was at Cedarwood observing the damage, said, “For the most part our infrastructure held up well.”

He said the department is keeping close watch on Chockoyotte Creek.

The issue with the vault is something that will have to be discussed amongst city staff and funeral directors, he said. “We may have to place (plastic vaults) deeper. We will have to defer to the funeral directors.”

He said, however, the vault did its job, keeping the casket contained inside intact. “After a tremendous amount of rain in 24 hours, anything can happen.”

The grave where the vault was located was on a downslope. The same thing happened with a vault near the reflection pond when heavy rains occurred last year, Chalker said.