As Tropical Storm Debby makes its way through North Carolina, Cumberland County residents are contending with elevated risks for flash flooding and tornadoes.
Though Debby is expected to depart by Friday morning, effects like river flooding are projected to last long after the storm’s exit.
Here’s the latest on what Cumberland County residents should know:
Conditions
Fayetteville Regional Airport reported an average wind speed of 15 mph, with peak gusts at 30 mph, around 1 p.m. Thursday. The city remains under a flash flood warning until 2 p.m. Thursday, with a flood watch in effect through 9 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
The National Weather Service’s noon briefing projected:
- Winds 25 to 40 mph all day Thursday
- “Numerous to widespread flash flooding” throughout Thursday
- Eventual river flooding probable through the weekend
- Isolated tornadoes possible, with the “greatest threat centered along [the] I-95 corridor,” throughout Thursday
National Weather Service staff last noted the Cape Fear River peaking at 22.15 feet at 11 a.m. Thursday, according to the noon briefing. The flood stage for the river is 35 feet. Current forecasts project the Cape Fear will peak at 60.6 feet on Saturday.
The most recent forecast for Fayetteville projected rainfall between a quarter and half of an inch Thursday night. The Can-Do City is expected to get less than an inch of rain Friday, the National Weather Service said, though showers and thunderstorms are projected to continue through Saturday afternoon. That’s significantly less than originally predicted, but meteorologists have warned river flooding could pose a problem in the coming days.
A Tweet from the National Weather Service office in Raleigh on Thursday morning reported parts of Fayetteville received as much as 7.68 inches of rain over the past 48 hours, while Hope Mills netted 6.86 inches of rain in that time.
Reports of flooding
Cumberland County Emergency Services warned residents in the Rayconda Dam area Thursday morning that the dam had breached. The extent of the damage remained unclear, but residents were advised to monitor downstream water levels and evacuate if needed.
CityView observed severe flooding at Linear Park, Hutaff Plaza and Cross Creek behind the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville Thursday morning.
Closures
Cumberland County officials closed the shelter at Mac Williams Middle School on Thursday morning, noting no one had come to the shelter, according to a news release.
All Cumberland County buildings and offices were closed Thursday, as were all town buildings in Hope Mills and Spring Lake.
Fort Liberty officials said its closures include:
- North Post and South Post commissaries
- Childcare facilities for non-essential personnel
- All Womack Army Medical Center services besides inpatient services and the emergency department
- Iron Mike Conference Center lunch buffet, outdoor pools and golf courses
- Rock Merritt gate
- Manchester gate
- Canopy gate
- Butner gate
Need help?
According to the county, staff are operating a non-emergency phone line, which can be reached at 910-600-7299 for information and help related to the storm. Communicare is also staffing a behavioral health crisis hotline at 910-229-5198, according to a news release.
County emergency shelters are open at:
- Pine Forest High School, 525 Andrews Road
- Smith Recreation Center, 1520 Slater Ave.
- South View High School, 4184 Elk Road, Hope Mills
- Westover Recreation Center, 267 Bonanza Drive
Pets can be brought to the South View and Westover shelters, the county said.
Road closures
According to the town of Hope Mills Facebook page, the following roads in Hope Mills are closed:
- Portions of Hunting Ridge Road near the intersection of Rockfish Road
- Deaver Circle
- Sommer Drive
Portions of Rockfish Road and Lakewood Drive were flooded as of Thursday afternoon, the town said.
The Spring Lake Fire Department posted on Facebook that the following areas were closed as of Thursday morning:
- West Manchester Road
- The bridge at East Manchester Road
A Thursday afternoon Facebook post by Mayor Mitch Colvin listed the following road closures in Fayetteville:
- Bryan Street at Branson Street
- Goodyear Avenue
- Freeport Road
- Hinsdale Avenue at Rowan Street
- Siple Avenue
- Rayconda Road
- South Cool Springs Street
- Vanstory Street
- Blue Street
- Orange Street
- Murchison Road
- Tangora Lane and Aftornshire Drive
- Maiden Lane
- L.A. Dunham Road
- Bombay Drive
- Boros Drive
- Hawthorne Road
- Oakridge Avenue
- North Street
- North Cool Springs Street
- Swann Street
- Zircon Court
And according to Fort Liberty’s Facebook page, the areas on post closed as of Thursday morning included:
- Woodruff Street behind the North Post Exchange to Knox Street
- Butner Road near McFayden Pond (Wilson Park)
- West Manchester Road off Rifle Range Road
- Hurst Street
- Easter Manchester Road to Highway 87
- Preacher Road
- Highway 690/Vass Road at the intersection of McPherson Road
What the weekend will bring
According to a news release, Cumberland County offices and buildings will open at normal hours Friday, though the county is “strongly” encouraging remote work for employees who can work from home. While the Ann Street Landfill will reopen, only four-wheel drive vehicles with dump trailers and heavy-duty commercial garbage trucks will be allowed until otherwise noted, the county said.
The county warned that the Little River near Spring Lake and the Cape Fear River in Fayetteville are projected “to reach high flood levels,” the release said.
“Emergency Services urges residents who live near potential flood zones to protect their valuables and be prepared for the potential need to evacuate their residence,” the release states.
The Smith Recreation Center shelter will close at 9 a.m. Friday, according to the release.
Fort Liberty posted on its Facebook page Thursday afternoon that all normal operations will resume Friday.
Reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at lsolomon@cityviewnc.com. Reporter Morgan Casey can be reached at mcasey@cityviewnc.com.
This story was made possible by contributions to CityView News Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to an informed democracy.
