Cabarrus County hard-hit by flooding

CONCORD, N.C. -- Cabarrus County commissioners have declared a state of emergency in the county because of widespread flooding.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Jay White said the state of emergency will pave the way for property owners to receive federal funding for flood damage.

County officials said approximately 60 structures were damaged by the storm.

Gov. Mike Easley plans to tour the area on Thursday. Easley has directed state damage assessment teams to flooded areas in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Fay dropped more than 11 inches of rain in southwest Concord.

On Wednesday, 14 swift-water rescues were carried out and two nursing homes were evacuated in the county.

Concord emergency management coordinator Jim Sells said most small streams had, but two streams still were rising about 6 inches an hour and were expected to rise 3 more feet before cresting. The city still has about a dozen flooded roads.

These roads remain impassable:

• Highway 73 at Dutch Road
• Red Bird Circle off Old Airport Road
• Barrier Road at Cindy Lane
• Morehead Road Closed From US Highway 29 to US Highway 49
• Miami Church Road and Cold Springs Road
• Stough Road near Marlboro Dr
• Bowman Barrier Road at Bridge
• Zion Church Road at Flowes Store Road
• Pharr Mill Road and Sequoia Hills Drive
• Highway 200 at PRDC Facility
• Poplar Tent Road Between at Cox Mill Bridge

Officials in Cabarrus County said that anyone living along the Rocky River should continue to be cautious as waters are expected to continue to rise.

Shelters are open at the Cannon Memorial YMCA in Kannapolis and Harrisburg United Methodist Church in Harrisburg on Hwy 49.

School was canceled Wednesday in Cabarrus County, but officials said schools will be operating on a normal schedule Thursday; however, buses may be following alternate routes to avoid problem areas.

Meanwhile, officials in Charlotte said the flooding was the worst in decades.

A 450-unit apartment complex, Doral/Cavalier in east Charlotte, was evacuated and a shelter set up in East Mecklenburg High School.

At one point, Charlotte fire officials asked all residents along Briar Creek to evacuate their homes.

Briar Creek went out of its banks for several miles, inundating neighboring streets and communities. The flooding forced authorities to close East Independence Boulevard, Albemarle Road and Central Avenue at times, creating massive traffic problems during the morning commute.

First Warn Storm Team meteorologist Larry Sprinkle said the weather would gradually subside over the next few days.

"Thursday afternoon will be a lot calmer. We still could see some rain, but nothing in the scale we've had the past two days," he said.

Friday and Saturday will be mostly sunny. A stray thunderstorm is possible Sunday afternoon. Labor Day should turn out nice, with a mix of clouds and sunshine and a high around 83.