Flooding Causes Delays, Closures; Tree Damages Car

80228234494503201 — South Madison Street near Caldis Street. (Courtesy Glasgow Hicks)

From six to nine inches of rain across central and southern Columbus is leading to delays, closures and cleanup this morning.

Sheriff Bill Rogers reported more than a dozen water rescues between Sunday afternoon and midnight.

In Whiteville, a tree damaged a car and a home on Four Oaks Drive.

Columbus County offices are on a two hour delay.

Southeastern Community College is on a two hour delay. Courts will open at 10 a.m., with all scheduled sessions beginning at 10.

Whiteville City Schools are on remote learning, with staff reporting on a two hour delay.

Classical Charter School is on a two hour delay.

In Whiteville, a number of streets were closed as of 5:30 a.m. including

S. Madison from Pecan to Talbot

• Lee from the railroad tracks to Franklin/Lee/Madison

• Franklin from Commerce to Franklin/Lee/Madison

• West Virgil at the church to the Pine Log side

• MLK at W. Virgil to W. Main

• W. Main at Lee all the way west

Madison Street at the Soules Swamp Bridge is closed.

Soules Swamp is continuing to rise as stormwater flows downstream from the western part of the county.

The area around GoGas and The Donut Shop sustained major flood damage.

Chadbourn saw major flooding, with N.C. 410 closing, and multiple street closures. Most of the water levels fell overnight.

Some areas of U.S. 701 South are blocked or down to one lane. The road is blocked between Boswell and Furnie Hinson, according to the Dept. of Transportation.

Soules Swamp is continuing to rise as stormwater flows downstream from the western part of the county.

The area around GoGas and The Donut Shop sustained major flood damage.

Chadbourn saw major flooding, with N.C. 410 closing, and multiple street closures. Most of the water levels fell overnight.

Some areas of U.S. 701 South are blocked or down to one lane.

Whiteville Emergency Services Director Hal Lowder said motorists should avoid flooded roads. One driver was trapped around 2 a.m. when she went into a flooded area and was stranded.

“Stay off the roads,” he said. “All that rain that fell in Chadbourn is flowing down on us. Even if you can get through a flooded area, you’ll cause a wake like a boat that can cause more damage to homes and businesses. Plus you never know what’s underneath the water.”