Isaias Remnants Flood Western North Carolina: Rescues, Landslides, Closed Roads

Isaias Remnants Flood Western North Carolina: Rescues, Landslides, Closed Roads

The remnants of Hurricane Isaias swept through western North Carolina from Saturday night into Sunday, dumping heavy rain on the mountains around Chimney Rock. Flood sirens sounded along the Rocky Broad River as residents were urged to seek higher ground immediately. Creeks overflowed their banks and roads flooded; Henderson County crews completed their first water rescue of the storm, and a woman trapped in her car in floodwaters was freed outside Morganton.

Torrents Hit the Mountains, Creeks Spill Over

The western mountains took the brunt of the rainfall. McDowell County reported five landslides overnight, with voluntary evacuations underway in some communities, as first responders worked flooded roads and streams bursting their banks. Nearly a dozen weather stations in the county recorded 24-hour rainfall totals ranging from about 5 inches to 9.57 inches (24 centimeters) at the fire and rescue station in Enola. The National Weather Service said rainfall was diminishing but that rapid river rises and flash flooding remained possible.

22,000 Without Power as Crews Work Through the Night

The power grid felt the strain too. Outages peaked at just over 22,000 customers statewide, with roughly half in the mountains; by 10:30 Sunday morning, more than 10,000 were still without power. Duke Energy and French Broad Electric deployed hundreds of crews. Governor Josh Stein and the state's emergency management officials urged all North Carolinians to remain vigilant. "We are grateful to the first responders and emergency management officials who worked through the night to keep people safe," Stein said. More than 2,300 NCDOT employees were mobilized statewide to clear debris and reopen roads. Yancey County opened an emergency shelter, and the Mooresville Fire Department's swift-water rescue team was deployed to the area.

Helene's Shadow Lingers, Defenses Tighten Again

These same mountains were devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024, and the scars have not fully healed. Chimney Rock, a well-known Blue Ridge tourist town, sits along the river, putting riverside residents and businesses first in harm's way. State emergency management and local offices coordinated overnight on public notification and rescue operations.

Remnants Move North, Tornado Threat Persists

Isaias's remnants continued moving north, spreading impacts into the Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic. Central and southeastern North Carolina saw multiple tornado warnings on Sunday, with the tornado threat remaining elevated throughout the day. Emergency officials pointed residents to ReadyNC.gov for storm preparedness guidance and warned drivers to stay clear of flooded roads: turn around, don't drown.

Keywords: Hurricane Isaias, North Carolina, flash flooding, landslides, power outages