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Crews across the Carolinas respond to flooding

By John Paul, wsoctv.com
By John Paul, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sunday morning update:

The South Carolina emergency management division's command center will be open 24-hours until the flooding subsides.

Emergency officials opened a new phone line Saturday for anyone to call and ask questions about flooding near them. You can reach the center at 1-866-246-0133.

IMAGES: Viewer photos of flooding, damage around the area

The flooded area is centered in the 12500 block of Statesville Boulevard between Statesville and Salisbury near the town of Cleveland.

Duke Energy prepares for flooding:

According to gauges the South Fork river has gone up by 4 feet in the past seven days.
 
Emergency Management expects it to reach 12 feet and spill out of its banks in the next two days.
 
Not a comforting thought to people with businesses right next to the river.

PHOTOS: Heavy rain causes flooding across Carolinas
 
More and more continues to pour downstream toward's Greg Ramsey's coffee shop.
 
"You just wonder if you are going to be down here sand bagging or if you are going to take on water in the back of your building," Ramsey said.

https://twitter.com/JennaWSOC9/status/650083895807995905

His basement flooded when heavy rain fell north of Gaston County two years ago.
 
It pooled in the river behind his shop.

He doesn't like the way it looks today.
 
Duke Energy said they are watching levels and opening dams so that water from bloated rivers will continue to flow downstream.
 
 "We are doing everything we can right now to move water through the lakes in anticipation of these increased inflows." Jennifer Jabon, spokesperson for Duke Energy said.
 
Duke Energy is currently releasing water from all thirteen hydro stations on the Catawba River chain.
 
They said they have a team of meteorologists and engineers watching the weather and preparing to release water before flooding occurs.
 
"That is a 24/7 team that monitors conditions," Jabon said.
 
Duke Energy still said people in areas that normally flood should be alerted to the possibility that it could happen again.
 
Those we talked to have sand bags ready to go if the river threatens.

Emergency officials closely monitoring lakes and rivers

The threat of heavy rain and flooding has local and state emergency officials closely monitoring the levels of lakes and rivers.

Crews have posted flood gauges and monitors throughout the Charlotte that will alert emergency crews if waters flow over their banks.

Water levels at Little Sugar Creek in Myers Park are already higher thanks to the past week of rain.

Weather resources:

Gov. will keep state emergency crews on standby

Gov. Pat McCrory told reporter Jim Bradley he will keep state emergency crews on standby.

“We're going to get an assessment within the next hour to make sure we trust the model at this point in time. Because we realize at a moment's notice, this thing can turn and impact other areas,” McCrory said.

Janis Bowlin's basement is gutted.

In August, flood waters came rushing in to their Matthews home from every direction.

The house sits on Goose Creek, near the Union County line and these culverts are supposed to help keep the water moving.

However, it was the fourth time they haven't been able to keep up.

That's why this weekend, Bowlin is on pins and needles.

“What do we do if it happens again?” she asked.

Officials cleared debris nearby recently hoping to help, after the inches of rain in Matthews and Union County.

Officials in Union County are worried about what might be coming this weekend, so they're focusing on problem spots now like Lawyers Road.

The storm in August led to a car hydroplaning on the waterlogged roads and crashing into a ditch.

The driver was OK, but county officials want to prevent it from happening again.

That's why they have road signs ready to go. They'll be hauling them out this weekend, if the water starts to rise

Officials have extra staff on standby and the emergency management agency will be staffed as well.

However, it's up to drivers to pay attention and steer clear of flooded roads.

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