Charlotte, North Carolina Local News
Residents below Lake Lure dam told to evacuate immediately
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Flooding from Helene forced evacuation orders in western North Carolina Friday morning.
In Rutherford County, residents down river of Lake Lure dam have been told to “evacuate to higher ground immediately!!” Dam failure was imminent, according to a post from the county’s emergency management officials.
The county says water is already overtopping the dam, and anyone who lives below the dam needs to evacuate to higher ground immediately.
Evacuations are also underway for parts of Charlotte, Asheville and McDowell and Haywood counties.
In Charlotte, officials ordered people on Riverside Drive, along the Catawba River, to evacuate as floodwaters rise.
In Asheville, Buncombe County issued a mandatory evacuation order at 6:30 a.m. for people along the Swannanoa River, starting at the North Fork Reservoir. Water at the reservoir has gone over the spillway, officials said.
“What we are seeing is unlike anyone alive has seen in Buncombe County,” Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder told reporters Friday morning. “Our rivers have not yet crested. This emergency will get worse.”
Buncombe County also ordered evacuations in Black Mountain.
“Due to flooding of a lake with a dam at Camp Ridgecrest for Girls, a mandatory evacuation order is in effect for 105 Balsam Road from the camp south to Highway 70 in Black Mountain,” emergency officials said.
Emergency officials warned that the flooding in Buncombe County will continue after Friday until the rivers crest.
“It’s going to reach above any record levels we’ve ever had,” said Ryan Cole, with Buncombe County Emergency Services. He said there had been more than 50 water rescues so far during the storm.
He also warned that the county was getting 911 calls that it could not respond to because they are too busy and emergency workers cannot reach some areas.
Officials also reported a mudslide on Tunnel Road in Asheville.
“Do not delay – take action to protect your loved ones. We understand that evacuation can be challenging, but the safety of our residents is our top priority. We urge everyone in the affected areas to take this order seriously and evacuate as soon as possible. If you can’t, emergency personnel will help you,” said Pinder.
“All residents in the following areas are required to evacuate,” the county said: “Individuals between North Fork Road to Old 70, following the Swannanoa River all the way to Biltmore Village should evacuate.”
That includes: North Fork Road south to Highway 70; Highway 70 west to Old Farm School Road; Old Farm School to Azalea Road; Azalea Road to Swannanoa River Road; and Swannanoa River Road to Biltmore Village.
Helene made landfall Thursday night along the Big Bend coast of Florida as a Category 4 storm. The storm is now weakening as it tracks to the north, bringing flooding rain, strong wind gusts and the threat for tornadoes to North Carolina.
Haywood County Emergency Services reported flash flooding in Cruso, Clyde, Canton and low-lying areas in Waynesville early Friday morning, along with road closures, water rescues and flooded homes. Those areas saw devastating flooding three years ago during Tropical Storm Fred.
“Flood waters are extremely dangerous. Getting caught up in floods may result in injury or death. LEAVE NOW. Climb to higher ground. Do not drive through water,” emergency workers warned.
A mandatory evacuation was issued for Bungalow Drive off of Garden Creek Road in Marion at 4:30 a.m. Friday.
“Please move to higher ground immediately!” McDowell County EMS posted on Facebook.
Flooding started in parts of the mountains of western North Carolina Wednesday afternoon. Up to 18 inches of rainfall is expected in some communities.
Related article: Helene brings potential for catastrophic flooding and tornadoes to North Carolina
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Jennifer Gamertsfelder
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