KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) – The recent rainfalls have caused serious damage to some roads around Eastern Carolina, but one Kinston street has a long road to recovery.

The Kinston police department reported a large sinkhole formed on Dunn Family Road overnight. They believe the hole was caused by the rushing waters that filled the roadway during Saturday’s storm.

Allen and Rhonda Peyton live down the street from the sinkhole but only saw the flooded road when they walked by Saturday night. They were surprised to see the sinkhole in the morning.

“We didn’t really know what to think because I didn’t see that coming”, Allen said. “The water had come up quick across the road when we came back.”

Dunn Family Road is a state-maintained road. Kinston Public Services and NCDOT were on the scene Sunday to assess the damage.

“It almost looked like debris on the road until you got closer, and then it’s like a shock,” Rhonda said. “I don’t know what time they blocked the road off, but if a car had gone through there at night and couldn’t see it, it would have been really catastrophic.”

Lenoir County Emergency Management shared pictures of the flash flooding from Saturday’s downpours, as well as the high river levels from Debby’s impact on Eastern Carolina. People in town say the roads flooded up fast.

“It started pouring down, and about an hour later, it dropped three inches of rain over here,” resident Wyatt Beasley said. “On the backside and all down Vernon towards 11, it was completely flooded. There were cars getting stuck out there.”

Kinston officials say they will continue to monitor the river levels and the roads that may be impacted. According to the National Weather Service, the Neuse River is forecast to crest at a moderate flood level in Kinston on Thursday.