State of North Carolina
Western North Carolina Flooding
SITREP 04
January 8, 1998
2200 Hours

I. SITUATION
A. Initial
A very warm and moist air mass located over North Carolina, coupled
with south to southeasterly winds and produced a weather situation
where intense bands of rain moved from the Gulf of Mexico, northward
across North Carolina.  Heavy to very heavy rains in some mountain
areas of North Carolina have occurred since sunset on Wednesday,
January 7th and into Thursday, January 8th.

B. Current
Automatically  reporting rain gauges located throughout the mountain
region had registered 24-hour total precipitation amounts of 8 -13 inches
by mid-day on January 8th.

The entire weather system moved eastward during the day on
Thursday.  These morning, afternoon and early evening rains affected
North Carolina from the coast to the western mountains.  Intense
thunderstorms produced locally heavy rains, strong winds, and damage
to structures, trees and one bridge across the state.

Friday will see clearing skies and the beginning of the return to more
seasonable temperatures over the entire state.

II. LOCAL ACTIONS - (Editor's Note: BLUE = Flooding RED = Severe Thunderstorms)
Alleghany -Flash Flooding - Bridge over Brush Creek washed out.  Flash
flooding continued until 2:00 am. (1045 hrs. 1/8/98) All flooded roads are
now passable (1535 hrs. 1/8/98)
Alexander -no current information
Ashe -Approximately 14 bridges are underwater.  An estimated 25
homes or apartments are isolated.
Avery -All flooded roads are now passable (1610 hrs. 1/8/98)
Bladen -Numerous secondary roads flooded.
Buncombe -South Buncombe US Hwy 25A is flooded.  Two families,
living permanently in recreational vehicles have been assisted by the Red
Cross.
Burke -I-40 is now clear.
Cabarrus -Monitoring the known flooding areas.
Catawba -Tree fell on a mobile home.  No injuries.
Cherokee -Two houses evacuated near the town of Andrews.  DOT
damage assessment crew with debris removal equipment is working on
DOT property where bridges cross road.  There is underwash beneath
the shoulder of Red Marble Road.
Clay -Monitoring the situation
Cumberland -Reported 3 structures damaged. In addition, three mobile
homes off their foundations due to wind in the town of Wade.
Davidson -Report of a tornado touchdown in Landis.  No damages
reported.
Duplin -Reports of wind damage to buildings and trees down throughout
Beulaville.
Durham - Durham County Waste Water Treatment Plant influent pump
station became overwhelmed will rising water as of 1130 hrs..
Approximately 25,000 gallons of diluted sewage was released into the
environment before the spill was confirmed at 1430 hrs., 1/8/98.  Durham
Co. Environmental Management in on the scene and directing the
clean-up effort.(1500 hrs.)
Gaston - Monitoring the situation
Graham - Monitoring the situation
Greene -No reports of fatalities or injuries.  Reported minimal to moderate
damage from the storm  Mobile homes overturned 5 -6 miles NW of Snow
Hill along Hwy 258.(1106 hrs. 1/8/98).
Hanover - Unconfirmed tornado touchdown (Wilmington).  Minor to
severe damage to Atlantic Paper, Sectchman and Fed-Ex building.
Haywood -One shelter opened at Junaluska Elementary School.  Two
temporary shelters were opened at fire departments.  Seven roads with
debris or damaged on them.
Henderson -Some residents evacuated. No major roads closed, some
secondary roads remain closed.(1619 hrs.)  Estimated 4 families
displaced and 15 businesses damaged.
Iredell -Monitoring the situation
Jackson -Most roads are open.  One lane closed in the Little Canada
community.  One nursing home was evacuated to special care facility
and American Red Cross is providing shelter for personnel.
Lincoln - Monitoring the situation
Macon -Riverside Road, Junaluska Road, Sam Corn Road, Sara Road,
Needmore Road, and US 64-E closed.  One house flooded in the
Nantahala Community.
Madison -US 2570 Bypass down to US 2570 Business into Marshall
closed. (1619 hrs.)
Martin -Minor damage reported.
McDowell -Rock slide at I-40 at Old Fort Mountain.  Bridge is closed on
Parker-Padgett Road in the Old Fort area.  DOT is on scene.    Caines
Creek: Twenty-five homes isolated. Access has been made to the area.
Homes have 2 - 3 feet of water.  Twenty-five homes are isolated.  All
residents are okay.(1000 hrs. 1/8/98)
Mecklenburg -No activity reported except mobilization of Swift Water
rescue team being deployed/staged in Hickory at the DEM Western
Branch Office.
Mitchell -No major roads closed.  Some secondary roads remained
closed.(1619) Fifteen to twenty mobile homes reported with some
damage.
Pender -One elementary school closed due to power outages.  School is
expected to be open on 1/9.  One residence sustained 55% damage due
to downed trees at Henry Brown Rd. & Pine St. in Burgaw.  Trees were
reported down on Hwy 421S.  Powerlines down on HWY 117, 12 miles
South of Burgaw. (0936 hrs. 1/8/98).
Polk - monitoring the situation
Richmond - Scattered flooding - Sides Rd and W. NC 73 Highway closed
as of 0900 hrs. 1/8/87
Rowan - monitoring the situation
Rutherford -Town of Lake Lure reported flash flooding (1128 hrs.).
Stanly - No structure damage.  Minor flooding reported.
Swain -Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reporting minor flooding and
mud slides.
Surry -DOT working to clear debris off roads.
Transylvania -All of US 276 closed, several secondary roads are closed.
(1619 hrs.)  Estimated 1800 people are without power.  Approximately
53 homes presently uninhabitable.  Approximately 30 homes isolated.
Three businesses affected.  The Transylvania Co. Emergency
Operations Center closed as of 18:46 1/8/98 and will reopen 0800 hrs.
1/9/98.  Their number is 704-884-3188. (1646 hrs. 1/8/98) Fifteen people
were displaced but have returned to their homes as of 1700 1/8/96.
Union - Four roads have water over them.
Wayne - State Rd. 1206 (Princeton Rd.) Is closed due to high water.
(1829 hrs. 1/8/98)
Watauga -Flash Flooding bridge over Brush Creek washed out.  Flash
flooding continued until 2 am. (1045 hrs.-1/8/98) Work continues on
private dams.  Lower dam may be artificially breeched to control
overflow. (2144 hrs. 1/8/98)
Wilkes - Reported 4 roads closed.
Yancey -Several bridges underwater, US 19-E at the Mitchell County line
is under water with 2 land slides in the east bound lane.  High water is
over the entire county. East and North roads are blocked temporarily due
to fallen trees, high water and slides.  No motor bridges lost or roadways
destroyed.

III. STATE ACTIONS
Operations Section
Human Services Group
The Human Services Group is activated.  Department of Social Services,
American Red Cross and the Salvation Army activated to support shelter,
cleanup and meal provision operations.

Three Individual Assistance/Public Damage Assessment teams were
deployed to the NCEM Western Branch Office, Conover. A 2-5 day
deployment is anticipated.   Engineers from the Dept. Of Insurance will be
at the Western Branch Office as of 0700 hrs. Friday, 1/9/98. (1044
hrs.-1/8/98)

ARC -Deployed two Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV) to Avery and
Mitchell.
Shelters open as of 0110 hours:

Watauga -Harden Park Elementary School, Foscoe Christian Church,
Foscoe VFD, Grace Lutheran Church
Mitchell -Grassy Creek VFD, Spruce Pine VFD, Estatoe VFD, Bakersville
Baptist Church
Rutherford -Bills Creek VFD, Lake Lure Municipal Bldg
Haywood -Junaluska School, Center Pigeon VFD, Clyde VFD
Jackson -Jackson County Community Services Bldg

Individual Assistance -Three Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA)
teams have arrived at the Western Branch office for briefing and
instructions.  Teams will be assigned one of three counties (Mitchell,
Avery and Watauga).

Infrastructure Support Group
Two OH-58 helicopters will be staged at the TRW staging site to serve
Avery and Mitchell Counties.(1630 hrs.)  North Carolina National Guard is
coordinating efforts to create a limited breech in the lower of two
Watauga dams.  (2144 hrs. 1/8/98)

Energy -Power outages reported in several counties.  Duke Energy has
not activated its storm center.   Will contact all utilities for damage
assessment at first light.   On-going activities and monitoring minimal
power outages.  Continue working on restoration plans for impacted
areas.  Continue to compile information from outages.

Transportation -DOT reports significant highway damage to NC 226 near
Bakersville in the Cane Creek Basin.  NC 226 and several secondary
roads have received extensive damage including the loss of three
bridges.  DOT heavy equipment from Mitchell, Yancey, and McDowell
counties supplemented by contract equipment is currently working when
possible.  Early estimates project several million in damages and 5-7 days
for initial repairs to open the road to traffic.   Other counties expect most
roads passable within 2 days.

Continue dispatching debris clearance teams as well as bridge
maintenance teams in the effected area based on initial impact
assessments.  Continue to monitor road conditions and barricade roads
with high water.

Continue coordination of DOT assets in surrounding areas to support
local clean up efforts.  Monitor further development based on initial
impact assessments.

Public Assistance  -Three Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams have
been identified and deployed to affected areas as of 1200 hours on
1/8/98.  Public Assistance applicant briefing packets are being
assembled in the event of a declaration.

Public Assistance is monitoring two privately owned dams which could
possibly fail.  National Guard, Dam Safety and DOT have been contacted
and are responding to the situation.

Damage Assessments will begin in effected counties at 0800 hrs. on
1/9/98.  Will be gathering figures from the Preliminary Damage
Assessment Teams and transmitting our findings to the Information and
Planning Group upon receipt.  Coordinating with Information and Planning
for a possible state of emergency declaration.

Emergency Services Group
The Emergency Services Group is fully activated planning for increased
evacuation activities.

Logistics Section
The Logistics Section Group is partially activated to provide military
support. The donations coordination team will begin limited activation to
assess further donation needs at 0900 hrs. Friday, 1/9/98 in the State
EOC.  The Donations Team will be at 888-786-7601 (Toll Free) or 919
733-6779.  Donations activity and volunteers should be directed to the
Team.  The toll free number will be active as of 0830 hrs. 1/9/98.

The Baptist Ministry will conduct their own assessment of needs in
Bakersville tomorrow for Friday, Saturday and Sunday's volunteer effort.
 They will be assisting with cleanup.  The Ministry will be providing
housing and meals for their own volunteers.

Emergency Workers at the TRW staging area will begin receiving meals
from the Salvation Army.
 
Military Support -NCNG providing support for initial impact assessment in
Avery and Mitchell Counties with a UH-60 helicopter. Will fly over Avery
then report to Mitchell county. NG also providing 6 Humvees to the
Western Branch Office for damage assessment to begin at 0700 hrs. on
1/9/98.

Dept of Corrections - Four to ten inmate work crews for debris removal
sent to Mitchell county.

Resource Support

Donations Management -will be activated as of 0930, Friday, 1/9/98.
Donations toll-free number is 888-786-7601.

Information and Planning Section
Monitoring the current situation and reviewing weather updates.
Developing a situation report, Incident Action Plans, conducting briefings
and conferences, and displaying maps showing advisories, watches
and warnings and the counties which are affected by the storm.

Finance Section
The Finance Section is not activated at this time.

IV. FEDERAL ACTIONS
FEMA notified and has sent a representative to the State EOC.

V. DISTRIBUTION
SERT Agencies
Situation Reports Group