Northwest Charlotte residents cleaning up after flood

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sharon Barnett's day started with a cleanup.

"All this has to be thrown away. Shoes, boots," Barnett said, as she showed Eyewitness News the flooding damage in her home. "The carpet has to be removed."

The damage was left behind after Thursday's rain and the creek behind the University Gardens Apartments in Northwest Charlotte started to rise. Barnett said the water came up fast.

Residents said they were asked by fire crews to evacuate.

Eyewitness News was at the apartments as water was pumped from underneath them Friday. Carpet from Barnett's apartment and her neighbors was ripped out.

Aikeem Sumpter also lives there. He said the water made a mess inside his home.

"We've had bad rain but I've never seen it flood like this," said Sumpter.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services said it had crews out in the western part of the city and county on Friday assessing the damage and preparing for more rain that's expected to come. Crews were checking streams and culverts to make sure debris isn't blocking the way.

Storm Water Services said that a rain gauge on Brookshire Boulevard recorded 4.45 inches of rain in three hours Thursday -- more than one month's average.

"I thank God because it could have been worse. This can be replaced, but it could have been worse," Barnett said.