Full Notification

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

* WHERE...A portion of western North Carolina, including the following counties, Burke, Caldwell and McDowell.

* WHEN...Until 700 PM EDT.

* IMPACTS...Several docks, access areas, swimming areas, and low-lying residential yards are likely flooding. Some outbuildings, campgrounds, and roads may be impacted with shallow flooding. Residents are encouraged to heed guidance from local officials and emergency management on any potential impacts to property. Drivers are encouraged to heed any barricades and avoid all flooded areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 104 PM EDT, Lake levels are gradually receding below Minor Flood Stage following the devastating rainfall observed both from tropical moisture interacting with a stationary front and Hurricane Helene. Approximately 6 to 25 (twenty- five) inches of rain fell from last Wednesday evening to early Friday afternoon 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 resulted in catastrophic and historic inflows into Catawba River reservoirs, resulting in tragically devastating flooding along the Catawba River system from Marion to Lake James to Lake Rhodhiss and points downstream. - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Hickory, Morganton, Marion, Longview, Sawmills, Granite Falls, Valdese, Salem, Icard, Drexel, Connelly Springs, Rutherford College, Glen Alpine, Rhodhiss, Lake James State Park, Lake James, Lake Rhodhiss, Hickory Regional Airport, Lake Hickory and Oak Hill. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

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

Instructions:

Please stay away from the area and allow first responders to perform their recovery efforts. Please obey all barricades which remain in place for your safety as numerous roadways have been compromised by flood waters and may not be safe. Emergency management is urging people who can stay home to do so. Discontinue inundating 911 centers with non-emergency calls (for example, trees down). Please continue to heed all guidance from law enforcement and emergency management as they continue to work tirelessly to keep people safe. Do not attempt to drive through any flooded roadways, Turn Around, Don't Drown.