Hurricane Isaias: Blue skies above but some closures remain

This story will be updated if/when more information becomes available.

Updated: Monday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m.

The forecast today calls for no rain, blue skies, and highs around 80. Perfect weather to dry out and recuperate after rain caused by Hurricane Isaias soaked the area.

Three Morganton-area gauges recorded between 6.03 and 7.41 inches of rain in the 24 hours ending Sunday morning, according to observations published by the National Weather Service. Burke County’s emergency update reported 9.57 inches at Enola Fire/Rescue in the 24 hours ending about 9 a.m. Sunday.

Caldwell County Emergency Services Chief Trevor Key said, "There was wide spread flooding throughout the county on Sunday morning. Most of the affected area was Johns River, Wilson Creek in the Collettsville Community, Yadkin River in the Happy Valley Community, and Lower Creek in the City of Lenoir. Several small tributaries resulted in wash outs and culvert damage throughout the county in residential communities."

He added no damages have been reported and there are no current roadway closures. As for flooded roadways, the water receded shortly after noon Sunday with no issues to areas such as Brown Mountain Beach Road and Old Johns River Road.

Lenoir's Mulberry Recreation Center is open, though the parking lot and adjacent fields were temporarily floods. Maintenance crews are working to remove mud and debris.

CLOSURES

Lower level of the Morganton Public Library. Rainwater soaked the floor but raised shelving means no books have been damaged. 

Today's closure at the library includes the children's room, study rooms, and meeting room. Baby Bookworms has been canceled, but Cool Kids Club will still meet at Animal Services for its tour today and the Liz Pardue program tonight is still occurring (it will be held upstairs in the Mr. Kistler wing).

McGalliard Falls Park is closed today. No word yet on whether the park will reopen Tuesday. As of now, the Friends of the Valdese Rec still plan to hold its Third Thursday Lunch & Learn at McGalliard, with a focus on the park's history and future. 

Fletcher Ball Park in Valdese is also closed.

The Greenlee Ford access to the greenway in Morganton remains closed. On Sunday, city workers placed barricades to keep people from entering the area. 

Bost Road and Spainhour Road in Morganton were both closed as of Monday morning, but water is receding and could reopen today. 

Schools bus routes on Spainhour and Antioch were rerouted, which affected Freedom feeder pattern schools, said Cheryl Shuffler, public relations officer for Burke County Public Schools. 

SEWER PUMP STATIONS

The City of Morganton reported two sewer spills that occurred Oct. 11.

The first spill was at a sewer junction box on Vine Arden Road near the Wastewater Treatment Plant and was caused by heavy rain and flooding. The spill started at 1 a.m. and ended the same day at 3 p.m. Approximately 840,000 gallons spilled into Hunting Creek.

The second sewer spill was located at 810 W. Fleming Drive at a manhole and was caused by heavy rain and flooding. Approximately 1,500 gallons spilled into a storm drain. The spill started at 1 a.m. and ended at 6 a.m.

The overflows were mostly rainwater that infiltrated into the sewer system during the storms, said Jonelle Sigmon, Morganton's public information officer.

Valdese’s water and sewage system experienced “extremely high inflows,” said Town Manager Todd Herms, which created issues at various manholes.

Herms said to help manage the excessive flows, a pump truck was placed at the Cline Avenue pump station for about 12 hours.

“Our biggest concern at this point is a sewer line aerial between Lovelady and Curville,” Herms said. “The storm washed out one of the support piers holding the line in place. Fortunately, the sewer line itself remains intact and operational, and we have not experienced a break.”

The Town of Drexel experienced some flooding at its sewer sump station on Bryant Road and at the clean water pumps on North Drexel Road. Town Manager Bill Carroll said there wer no impacts to health, property, and public safety, and the flooding has receded.

IN RELATED NEWS

No injuries have been reported, according to Chris White, Burke County public information officer. There were 13 calls for trees/power lines down. 

Burke County reported two swiftwater rescues: a couple and their dog behind Freedom High School's Driving Range (not on school property) and a woman whose vehicle hydroplaned into a ditch on N.C. Highway 126 in the Oak Hill area. 

River runoff cut a driveway to several homes in the Fonta Flora community requiring a wooden footbridge for access.

At the peak, about 266 customers were without power in Burke County. Morganton reported no outages within the city. 

Lake James and Lake Rhodhiss were cresting this morning — 101.18 feet and 103.76 feet, respectively — and officials say rivers and streams are receding. 

Bethel Park in Morganton was closed Sunday but has since reopened.