Charlotte-Mecklenburg emergency crews brace for Helene to hit Carolinas

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Emergency management crews across the Carolinas are on standby, ready to respond when the worst of Helene moves through our region.

They’re expecting the activity to ramp up overnight Thursday and want you to know they’ve got you covered. But they do have some requests to make your – and their – lives easier.

“Conditions are going to worsen throughout the next day and a half,” said Major Jonathan Thomas with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

It’s all hands on deck in North Carolina, as crews brace for the incredibly dangerous and possibly catastrophic storm. Helene was preparing to make landfall as a Category 4 in the Florida Big Bend.

While the storm’s worst impacts are expected in the western part of the state, closer to home, teams are preparing to act.

“We are prepared to rise and meet any demand which occurs in the next couple of days,” said Damian Gonzales, Medic deputy director.

First responders want to keep you safe, but they also want to protect themselves.

“Our Charlotte firefighters have to put themselves at risk to rescue folks and we don’t want that to occur,” said Division Chief Robert Graham with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management.

It’s why they’re asking people to use common sense. If you see flood water, don’t drive through it.

“Officers will be putting out barricades as we find flooded areas that are likely to happen overnight,” said Thomas. “Do not drive around these barricades.”

For those living near Mountain Island Lake and the Catawba River, they’re keeping an extra close eye on conditions there.

“Flood waters are predicted to rise,” said Graham. “Working with Duke Energy, they believe they’re going to have significant issues in that area.”

If you have an emergency during the storm, call 911. But leaders are encouraging anyone who doesn’t need immediate help to use 311.

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