Flood waters rise
By Steve Herring
Published in News on April 28, 2017 7:36 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Tommy Humphrey drives Channing Reedy of AT&T through the floodwaters on Claridge Nursery Road near U.S. 70 Thursday evening. Humphrey and other staff members of George's Body Shop had to move cars and equipment to higher ground after the water began to flood their property. While talking about the unexpected flooding he said "We just want to know why." Several area roads will be closed until the waters recede.
The boat landing at U.S. 117 South is under water this morning as the Neuse River continues to climb toward its expected crest at 23.7 feet early Monday.
It is expected to fall to 21 feet by late Tuesday night.
Sticks have been placed in several locations around the boat landing in an apparent attempt to chart the rising floodwaters that already are surrounding a building heavily damaged by Hurricane Matthew in October.
As of 6 a.m. today, the water level was 20.81 feet, nearly three feet above the river's 18-foot flood stage.
A flood warning continues for Wayne County, and several roads remained closed this morning, mostly because of localized creek and stream flooding caused by the heavy rains earlier in the week.
The roads include sections of Stevens Mill, Beaver Dam, Buck Swamp and Hood Swamp.
Ferry Bridge Road was closed because of flooding from the Neuse River.
Buck Swamp, Capps Bridge, Bridgers and Claridge Nursery roads are closed because of flooding from the Little River.
Arrington Bridge Road and access roads around Seymour Johnson Air Force Base begin flooding at 20 feet and at 21 feet, Riverview Trailer Park homes and Stevens Mill Road begin to flood, according to the according to Federal Emergency Management Agency data.
On Thursday a motorist went around barricades on Claridge Nursery Road and had to be rescued after becoming stranded, said Mel Powers, Wayne County Office of Emergency Services director.
"We hope people will heed the warning," he said. "I hope it will be the only one that we have. We put them up for a reason."
The county remains in constant contact with Army Corps of Engineers and has a schedule of planned releases from the Falls of the Neuse dam.
The releases will not increase the river level, but it could extend how long the river will be high, Powers said.
At 22 feet flooding begins on the base and at 22.5 feet evacuation of some homes in the Mar-Mac area and possibly the Buckhorn Island subdivision may be necessary.
Strobe lights at the end of the base runway flood when the river reaches 23 feet.
Five primary routes and 70 secondary roads are closed in eastern North Caroline because of flooding. The affected primary routes are concentrated in Greene, Edgecombe and Wilson counties.
Interstate 795 North/U.S. 264 West in Wilson County has been closed between Exit 43 (U.S. 301) and Exit 40 (N.C. 42) because of a failed pipe beneath the roadway.
The N.C. Department of Transportation estimates that it will take two to three days for contractors to complete repairs and re-open the road. Motorists in the area should follow the marked detour.
Flooding can cause washouts underneath the roadway, and DOT crews will not open a closed road until it has been inspected for safety.
More rain is expected next week.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely before 2 a.m. Monday followed by a chance of showers before 8 a.m.
Transportation officials urge drivers to never drive around barricades, even if the road appears clear.
For the latest flooding information, download the ReadyNC mobile app and check the flood gauges nearest you.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.