Town of Black Mountain braces for Hurricane Helene
Local officials to remain on standby as possible flooding and strong winds forecasted for area
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 25, 2024
The Town of Black Mountain lowers the water level in Lake Tomahawk, Sept. 25, as officials prepare for the impact of Hurricane Helene. Photo by Fred McCormick
Preparation was underway in the Town of Black Mountain, Sept. 25, as the anticipated impacts of Hurricane Helene triggered hazardous weather advisories from the National Weather Service, including a tropical storm watch through 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27.
With forecasts calling for multiple rounds of heavy rain, beginning Wednesday evening and intensifying through Thursday into Friday, local officials are bracing for the storm while advising residents to be prepared for flooding and power outages.
The rapidly moving storm in the Gulf of Mexico is anticipated to make landfall on the Florida panhandle Thursday evening, before moving north through Georgia and into Western N.C. The NWS Greenville-Spartanburg office has issued a flood watch for the area, which could experience rainfall totals between 9-14 inches.
Winds from 20-30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 55 miles per hour, are expected to impact the Swannanoa Valley.
Black Mountain officials are taking proactive measures, according to Assistant Town Manager Jessica Trotman.
“Our department heads are meeting each morning to review conditions and priorities,” she said. “We have been doing a variety of storm prep around town, including clearing ditches of debris to increase their capacity to move water.”
The town is slowly lowering the water level in Lake Tomahawk to accommodate the forecasted rain, while staff walks door-to-door in low-lying neighborhoods near Flat Creek and the Swannanoa River to warn of flooding risks.
A barricade will be placed on each end of Village Way, between Charlotte Street and Flat Creek Road, while digital signs displaying relevant information will be placed at interstate exit ramps. Extra crews have been scheduled to respond clear fallen trees and limbs from roadways, according to Trotman
“We deal with tropical events on a semi-regular basis, so these are all standard protocols,” she said. “The longer this team has been together, the more quickly we’re able to make decisions. We plan to gather data and monitor the situation the entire time.”
Residents are advised to secure loose outdoor items, such as furniture, trash cans or tools, stock up on essential items and avoid driving during heavy rains and high winds. Fallen trees and standing or rushing water are expected to pose risks to motorists during the storm, and drivers are advised to avoid flooded roadways.
“If you have things in your yard like trampolines, wood piles, grills with propane tanks or even cars, especially near Flat Creek or the Swannanoa River, you want to move and secure those items,” Trotman said. “Those kinds of things can create dangerous conditions in the event of a swift water rescue.”
Public safety officials are prepared to respond to emergency calls associated with the storm, which is anticipated to saturate the soil and increase the risk downed trees and widespread power outages.
“We want people to be aware of the potential dangers associated with this storm,” Trotman said.
The town is advising the public to keep mobile devices charged and stock up on essential items, including non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights and batteries.
“We have already posted some information on the town’s Facebook page and we plan to use that to get information out quickly during this storm,” Trotman said.