RALEIGH, N.C. – Gov. Pat McCrory and State Emergency Management officials are monitoring flooding conditions in the central and eastern parts of North Carolina following heavy rains overnight and into the morning.
Rhodes Pond Dam in Godwin is breached on one side and water is overtopping dam. State officials are warning of complete dam failure.
A flash flood watch is in effect through this evening for a portion of central North Carolina including Cumberland, Edgecombe, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Richmond, Sampson, Scotland, Wayne and Wilson counties.
In Hoke County, emergency management officials reported a dam failure around 11:47 a.m. on a small lake that drains into McLaughlin Lake.
A state of emergency went into effect at 9:30 a.m. Thursday and was issued by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners.
Donnie Sulcer, a near 50-year resident of Harnett County said waters from Anderson Creek were at their highest levels ever.
“I’ve never seen it this way before, no sir. I haven’t. I‘ve seen water come up but not this high,” said Donnie Sulcer. “That’s as high as the fence. The water this morning was over that fence right here. That’s a 4-foot or 5-foot fence,” he said.
An NCDOT official said it could take close to a month for Thompson Road in Lillington to reopen.
Just five miles down the road from Sulcer, water was overflowing the banks at Jumping Run Creek.
“This is typically a dry area. I think we are going to have to find different routes to get to school,” said Jeremy Platte.
Fort Bragg sent service members home at 10 a.m. and civilian workers at noon to ensure public safety because of flooding conditions.
“We want to ensure our Service members, their families and our civilian workforce remain safe today,” Tom McCollum, Fort Bragg Garrison’s Public Affairs officer said.
Roads in Fayetteville and Cumberland County have been severely impacted. Manchester Road and Jumping Run Creek are “washed out” in Cumberland County.
Fayetteville is receiving assistance from outside emergency services agencies, according to the City of Fayetteville.
So far, the city has reported that 25 people have been rescued from flooded areas.
Streams and creeks in the central North Carolina area are quickly rising and many roads have been closed.
Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the Fayetteville Police Department responded to nearly 80 reports of flooding because of the severe weather in the region.
First responders rescued someone from their car off Bragg Boulevard in Fayetteville. Authorities said the driver is expected to be fine. No injuries were reported.
Flooding is occurring and will continue throughout the morning, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
The Lower Little River at Manchester river is expected to rise to nearly 39 feet Thursday morning. The major flood stage is 27 feet.
The river is expected to fall below flood stage Friday, according to National Weather Service.
They said the Lower Little River at Manchester is forecast to approach the all time record and many local businesses will be flooded.
The flooding is considered to be “an extremely dangerous situation.” Drivers are recommended not to drive into flooded areas.
Residents near Carvers Creek State Park in Spring Lake have been told by Cumberland County
Red Cross is supporting two shelters in Cumberland County.
An emergency shelter has opened at Smith Recreation Center, located at 1520 Slater Ave. in Fayetteville, according to Fayetteville police.
Spring Lake Recreation Center will be operating as an emergency shelter. It is located at 245 Ruth St. in Spring Lake.
Two-hour delays were in effect for Harnett and Moore County Schools Thursday. Cumberland County schools will be closed Thursday, which will be an optional workday for staff. Hoke County schools will also be closed Thursday.
