Emergency management officials are preparing for flooding, power outages, mudslides and landslides in North Carolina’s High Country.
Hurricane Florence is expected to dump an estimated seven to 12 inches of rain in the area throughout the weekend and beyond. Meteorologists said mudslides and landslides can be triggered with just five inches of rainfall.
“In the northern part of the county, with the ground is so saturated already, we could be dealing with some mudslides,” said Vic Misenheimer, assistant emergency management coordinator for Caldwell County.
Misenheimer said officials are planning for downed trees and power lines across the county, but flooding will be a major concern if the system stalls over the area.
One area under watch is Wilson’s Creek in Collettesville. That’s because water from Burke, Avery, Caldwell and Watauga all feed into the creek. As it rises, so does the potential for flooding for those who live downstream.
“We just had a flood event or flood warning in the Wilson Creek area late last night, early this morning. So with that in place, the rainfall and wind can be significant for us,” Misenheimer said.
Officials with Chimney Rock State Park announced Wednesday the park would close Friday through Sunday.
Officials in Catawba County are advising residents to sign up for the Catawba County Community Alert System, saying it is key to receiving accurate, official information from local authorities during critical times.
The system can also send weather warnings directly to your phone within seconds of the National Weather Service's warnings for floods, tornadoes and severe weather.
Smartphone apps like ReadyNC have shelter information, roadway information, power outages and safety tips during a storm all in one spot. The CodeRED app is also a way to see community alerts.
