Local flooding and landslides force evacuations
The flooding is getting worse throughout the area, and reported slope failures are closing roads and endangering lives.
From the National Weather Services' Greenville-Spartanburg office:
UPDATE: The evacuation order has been rescinded, after an inspection of the dam deemed it safe.
A state of emergency has been declared in McDowell County.
McDowell County Emergency Management said some 2,000 people from campgrounds and residential communities near the dam and lake had evacuated, with roughly 200 at shelters, adding there may be more later since water levels were expected to rise. Old Fort and Marion are the hardest-hit communities.
Shelters were set up at two churches and a YMCA.
McDowell County Emergency Management Deputy Director Adrienne Jones told The Associated Press five minor injuries have been reported during water rescues as creeks and streams overflowed their banks and rockslides closed roads.
CBS Greensboro, N.C., affiliate WFMY-TV reports a mudslide in Old Fort forced the shutdown of a portion of Interstate 40. Later, the North Carolina Department of Transportation said the right two westbound lanes and the left eastbound lane remained closed, probably until Friday afternoon.
Roads around Asheville are flooded and closed. Biltmore Village is flooded.
Carrier Park closed, as is Azalea Road.
Swannanoa River Road from Biltmore Ave to S. Tunnel Road was closed, too
You can follow developments at the City of Asheville's Twitter account.
Also, a listing of closures can be found here.
RECORD EVENT REPORT
...RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM RAINFALL SET AT GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC...
ON TUESDAY, 29 MAY 2018, 1.76 INCHES OF RAIN FELL AT THE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG AIRPORT. THIS IS A NEW DAILY RAINFALL RECORD FOR THE DATE. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS DAILY RAINFALL RECORD OF 1.45 INCHES FROM 1976. CLIMATOLOGICAL RECORDS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED FOR THE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG METROPOLITAN AREA SINCE 1884.
There is a FLOOD WARNING in effect until tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in North Carolina...
French Broad River Near Fletcher affecting Buncombe and Henderson Counties...
French Broad River At Blantyre affecting Henderson and Transylvania Counties.
Runoff from previous heavy rain and more heavy rain expected today will result in the river remaining above flood stage.
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