Flash flood ‘imminent’ at Mountain Island Lake, evacuations underway

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MECKLENBURG COUNTY ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — A flash flood is ‘imminent’ at Mountain Island Lake on Friday, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management.

Duke Energy will open floodgates at Cowans Ford Dam. Officials said flood waters will rise rapidly and conditions will change quickly.

“Duke Energy needs to move large amounts of rainwater through the Catawba River System from Lake Norman to Lake Wylie through Mountain Island Lake,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management said. “Prepare to evacuate.”

“Due to increased traffic, all of Mount Holly will be affected. Stay home and do not travel on the roads unless you are evacuating,” authorities said.

Officers are going door-to-door notifying residents of the danger from the rising waters.

Authorities are asking everyone to evacuate the area on Friday. There is a shelter open on Friday at Tuckaseegee Rec Center located at 4820 Tuckaseegee Road.

In Gaston County, emergency officials are moving its emergency shelter to Belmont Middle School located at 1020 South Point Road in Belmont. This facility is first-come, first-served.

HAZARDS : Life-threatening flash flooding from dam floodgate releases caused by excessive rainfall.

SOURCE : Duke Energy and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management

IMPACT : This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! IMMEDIATE EVACUATION for areas along the river immediately downstream of the dam.

Life-threatening, catastrophic, and potential historic flash flooding of areas along the Catawba River from immediately downstream of Cowans Ford Dam to Mountain Island Lake to the Riverside Drive community below Mountain Island Lake Dam.

At 106.5 feet…major flooding continues.

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