Full Notification

FFWGSP The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for... Central Burke County in western North Carolina... Southeastern Caldwell County in western North Carolina... East Central McDowell County in western North Carolina...

* Until 200 PM EDT Sunday.

* At 723 PM EDT, Devastating rainfall of 6-25 (twenty-five) inches occurred from Wednesday evening through Friday morning from Lake Hickory to the Catawba River headwaters, with the highest totals exceeding 2 feet along the Blue Ridge Escarpment across the upper Catawba River watershed. This is resulting in catastrophic and historic inflows into Lake James, and releases from Lake James are causing catastrophic flooding along the Catawba River into Lake Rhodhiss.

* The latest pool elevations for the upper Catawba River lakes are as follows (Full Pool is 100.0 feet): Lake James: 110.3 feet and rising steadily. RECORD BROKEN. Lake Rhodhiss: 108.1 feet and rising steadily.

* The former record pool elevation at Lake James is 107.36 feet which occurred in September 8, 2004 during Hurricane Frances. Major Flood Stage is 110.0 feet.

* The current record pool elevation at Lake Rhodhiss is 110.10 feet which occurred in August 1940. Major Flood Stage is 110.0 feet.

* This is an unprecedented and extremely dangerous event. Residents are urged to heed guidance from emergency management and law enforcement on any potential impacts to property. We are pleading with drivers to heed any barricades and avoid all flooded areas. There have been numerous swift water rescues because people are choosing to risk their lives and the lives of others by failing to Turn Around Don't Drown. Please do the right thing and protect your life, the life of your family, and the lives of those who risk theirs to save you. This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Catawba River from Lake James to Lake Rhodhiss. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! HAZARD...Life-threatening flash flooding from historic rainfall and resultant dam floodgate releases. SOURCE...Duke Energy and Burke County Emergency Management. IMPACT...This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! Life-threatening flash-flooding of Lake James, the Catawba River, and Lake Rhodhiss is ongoing. Structural flooding along Lake James continues and is developing along Lake Rhodhiss. Downstream of Bridgewater Dam on the Catawba River, several structrues are damaged or destroyed, with some single-level homes submerged by floodwaters. These floodwaters are causing numerous swift-water rescues. Backwater effects are causing significant inundation along tributaries, including flooding exceeding 4 ft deep at the NC 18/US 64 bridge, blocking a primary roadway connecting Morganton and Lenoir.

* Please stay weather aware and monitor lake levels and Duke Energy projections closely for any changes.

* For more information on lake levels or dam releases, people are encouraged to visit https://lakes.duke-energy.com or call 1-800-829-5253.

* Residents along the Catawba River are encouraged to stay aware of the latest updates from Burke County by signing up for alerts at: http://smart911.com

* McDowell County Emergency Management, Burke County Emergency Management, Caldwell County Emergency Management, and Duke Energy are closely monitoring these high flows and pool levels and additional updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

* AFFECTED AREAS: BURKE, NC ... CALDWELL, NC ... MCDOWELL, NC

Instructions:

Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order. If you are in low-lying areas along the Catawba River you should move to higher ground immediately.