Alert Top Story McDowell declares state of emergency ahead of hurricane; 10-11 inches of rain expected Chrissy Murphy Sep 25, 2024 Sep 25, 2024 Updated Sep 25, 2024 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Caldwell and McDowell are among the NC counties that have declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene’s impending landfall Thursday night.kAm%96 DE@C>[ H9:49 3642>6 2 9FCC:42?6 (65?6D52J >@C?:?8[ :D 6IA64E65 E@ C6249 H6DE6C? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 =2E6 %9FCD52J ?:89E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ >6E6@C@=@8:DE s@F8 ~FE=2H H:E9 E96 }2E:@?2= (62E96C $6CG:46]k^AmkAm“(6’C6 AC6EEJ DFC6 E92E :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 86E 325 :7 E96 EC24< @7 E9:D DJDE6> W4@?E:?F6DX[” ~FE=2H D2:5] “x7 :E 4@?E:?F6D E@ 8@ 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 H6DE[ :E’== 92G6 =6DD @7 2? :>A24E] x7 :E 4@>6D DEC2:89E @? :?E@ E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 >@F?E2:?D[ E96C6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 8C62E6C :>A24E]”k^Am kAmw6 D2:5 C2:?72== E@E2=D 2C6 6DE:>2E65 E@ 36ik^Am People are also reading… Update: Old Fort man killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 identified 1 person killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 eastbound near Old Fort McDowell County Sheriff’s Office searching for missing classic car Marion man charged with burglary and kidnapping after woman held against her will in home This WNC family lost their home in Hurricane Helene. 19 months later, they're getting a new one. This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer Morganton man charged with raping child; placed under $1 million bond Reports: NC Rep. Chuck Edwards under investigation for sexual harassment claims Duke basketball makes history with Amazon Prime deal, schedules marquee matchups McDowell Chamber of Commerce holds annual gala, awarding top businesses, leaders U.S. Department of Agriculture declares 2026 drought a disaster for western NC McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes FEMA provides $1.4 million to rebuild from Old Fort’s Hurricane Helene damage Investigators allege friends of NASCAR's Greg Biffle stole from his home after plane crash 'Energy is not a luxury': Duke Energy customers speak on price increase at hearing kF=mk=:m|4s@H6== r@F?EJi `_\`` :?496Dk^=:mk=:mqFC<6 r@F?EJi e\g :?496Dk^=:mk=:mr2E2H32 r@F?EJi c\d :?496Dk^=:mk=:mxC656== r@F?EJi b]d\c :?496Dk^=:mk^F=mkAm%96 >@F?E2:?D 4@F=5 86E 92>>6C65 H:E9 >@C6 C2:?[ FA E@ `d :?496D[ ~FE=2H D2:5] %92E C2:? H:== 36 72==:?8 @? 2=C625J D2EFC2E65 8C@F?5 27E6C C2:? 62C=J E9:D H66<[ 96 D2:5[ :?4C62D:?8 E96 492?46D @7 7=@@5:?8]k^AmkAm$@7E 8C@F?5 H:== >2<6 :E 62D:6C 7@C DEC@?8 H:?5D E@ <?@4< 5@H? EC66D 2?5 A@H6C =:?6D[ 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmpC@F?5 g A]>] %9FCD52J[ DFDE2:?65 H:?5D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 36 4@>:?8 :? 7C@> E96 62DE 2E 2C@F?5 `d >A9 H:E9 8FDED FA E@ ad >A9] pE >:5?:89E[ H:?5 DA665D H:== :?4C62D6 E@ 23@FE a_ >A9 H:E9 8FDED FA E@ bd >A9]k^Am kAmuC:52J >@C?:?8 7C@> c\`_ 2]>][ ~FE=2H D2:5 H:?5D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 36 23@FE ad\b_ >A9 H:E9 8FDED H:E9 DA665D FA E@ d_ >A9]k^AmkAm%96 H:?5 H:== DE2CE E@ 42=> 5@H? uC:52J 27E6C?@@?[ 2?5 E96 DE@C> D9@F=5 4=62C @FE @7 E96 2C62 3J uC:52J 6G6?:?8[ 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm“(92E H6’C6 >@DE 4@?46C?65 23@FE :D :7 :E H@C<D @FE E92E E96C6’D `_ E@ `d :?496D @7 C2:? @G6C E96 >@F?E2:?D[ E96? E92E 3C:?8D E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 =2?5D=:56D[ D:56D @7 >@F?E2:?D D=:5:?8 5@H? :?E@ E96 G2==6J[” ~FE=2H D2:5]k^AmkAm~FE=2H C676C6?465 E96 a__c !66<D rC66< =2?5D=:56[ H9:49 <:==65 7:G6 A6@A=6 :? |24@? r@F?EJ[ 2D wFCC:42?6 xG2? A2DD65 E9C@F89 H6DE6C? }r[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }r s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= "F2=:EJ]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm“xE’D 2 A@DD:3:=:EJ E92E D@>6E9:?8 =:<6 E92E 4@F=5 @44FC %9FCD52J ?:89E 2?5 uC:52J[” ~FE=2H D2:5]k^Am k9am$E2E6 @7 6>6C86?4Jk^9amkAm}r v@G] #@J r@@A6C 564=2C65 2 DE2E6 @7 6>6C86?4J 7@C }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 @? (65?6D52J 27E6C?@@? 29625 @7 w6=6?6’D =2?572==]k^AmkAm“w6=6?6 E9C62E6?D 962GJ C2:?[ 7=2D9 7=@@5:?8[ =2?5D=:56D[ 2?5 52>28:?8 H:?5D E@ E96 >@F?E2:?D 2?5 !:65>@?E 2C62D @7 @FC DE2E6[” r@@A6C D2:5 :? 2 AC6DD C6=62D6 %9FCD52J] “}@H :D E96 E:>6 7@C }@CE9 r2C@=:?:2?D E@ AC6A2C6[ >2<6 DFC6 6>6C86?4J <:ED 2C6 FA\E@\52E6 2?5 A2J 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 H62E96C 2=6CED :? J@FC 2C62]”k^Am kAm%96 C6=62D6 7C@> r@@A6C’D @77:46 D2:5 E96 DE2E6 :D 56A=@J:?8 6BF:A>6?E[ A6CD@??6= 2?5 C6D@FC46D E@ DFAA@CE :>A24E65 4@>>F?:E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 DH:7E H2E6C C6D4F6 E62>D 2?5 FC32? D62C49 2?5 C6D4F6 E62>D] #6D@FC46D 7C@> E96 }r }2E:@?2= vF2C5 2?5 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 :?4:56?E >2?286>6?E DFAA@CE 2=D@ 92G6 366? 24E:G2E65]k^AmkAm|4s@H6== r@F?EJ[ E96 4:EJ @7 |2C:@? 2?5 E96 E@H? @7 ~=5 u@CE 564=2C65 2 DE2E6 @7 6>6C86?4J[ H9:49 H:== 8@ :?E@ 67764E 2E d A]>] (65?6D52J[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C6=62D6 7C@> |4s@H6== r@F?EJ]k^AmkAm“(6 FC86 4:E:K6?D E@ E2<6 E9:D DE@C> D6C:@FD=J[” D2:5 (:== z69=6C[ 6>6C86?4J D6CG:46D 5:C64E@C :? |4s@H6== r@F?EJ] “x7 J@F =:G6 ?62C 2 4C66<[ C:G6C @C 7=@@5 AC@?6 2C62[ H6 FC86 J@F E@ C6=@42E6 H:E9 72>:=J @C 7C:6?5D F?E:= E9:D DE@C> A2DD6D 2?5 4@?5:E:@?D :>AC@G6] (6 2C6 E2<:?8 E96D6 AC@24E:G6 DE6AD ?@H :? 2? 677@CE E@ AC@E64E =:G6D 2?5 AC6G6?E 52?86C@FD H2E6C C6D4F6D 7C@> @44FCC:?8]”k^Am kAmp D96=E6C H:== @A6? 2E v=6?H@@5 q2AE:DE r9FC49[ `dd v=6?H@@5 q2AE:DE r9FC49 #5][ |2C:@?[ 2E h 2]>] %9FCD52J] x7 J@F ?665 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? E@ 86E E@ E96 D96=E6C[ 42== gag\eda\bac` E@ D4965F=6 2 A:4<FA 7C@> |4s@H6== %C2?D:E] %C2?DA@CE2E:@? H:== ?@E 36 2G2:=23=6 5FC:?8 7=2D9 7=@@5:?8]k^AmkAmx? r2=5H6== r@F?EJ[ 2 DE2E6 @7 6>6C86?4J H2D 564=2C65 E92E H6?E :?E@ 67764E 2E ?@@? (65?6D52J[ D2:5 2 C6=62D6 7C@> r2=5H6== r@F?EJ]k^AmkAm~77:4:2=D 7C@> qFC<6 2?5 r2E2H32 4@F?E:6D D2:5 E96J H6C6 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ >@?:E@C E96 D:EF2E:@? 2?5 6IA64E65 E@ >2<6 2 564:D:@? 23@FE 564=2C:?8 2 DE2E6 @7 6>6C86?4J 2D E96 DE@C>’D EC24< 364@>6D >@C6 4=62C]k^Am kAms64=2C:?8 2 DE2E6 @7 6>6C86?4J 2==@HD =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED 2446DD E@ 255:E:@?2= C6D@FC46D 2?5 6>6C86?4J D6CG:46D]k^Am k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\:?7@Qmk9cm|@C6 x?7@C>2E:@?k^9cmkAmpD E96 DE@C> 2AAC@2496D[ C6D:56?ED 2C6 2D<65 E@ik^Am kF=mk=:m|2<6 DFC6 E96J 92G6 6?@F89 7@@5[ H2E6C 2?5 >65:4:?6 E@ =2DE 2E =62DE E9C66 52JD :? 42D6 @7 2? 6>6C86?4J] |2<6 DFC6 J@FC <:E :?4=F56D 32EE6C:6D[ 3=2?<6ED[ 7=2D9=:89ED[ 2 7:CDE 2:5 <:E[ CF336C 3@@ED[ CF336C 8=@G6D 2?5 2 }~pp (62E96C #25:@]k^=:mk=:m}6G6C 5C:G6 2C@F?5 C@25 32CC:6CD @C E9C@F89 7=@@565 C@25D] %FC? 2C@F?5[ 5@?’E 5C@H?]k^=:mk^F=m kAmx7 J@F 6IA6C:6?46 2 A@H6C @FE286[ 5@ ?@E 42== h``] x?DE625[ 42== J@FC A@H6C 4@>A2?Jik^Am kF=mk=:msF<6 t?6C8Ji `\g__\!~(t#~} Wfeh\bfeeXk^=:mk=:mr:EJ @7 |@C82?E@?i gag\cbg\daffk^=:mk=:m#FE96C7@C5 t=64EC:4i `\g__\aag\hfdek^=:mk=:mq=F6 #:586 t?6C8Ji `\g__\ccg\abgbk^=:mk=:m|@F?E2:? t=64EC:4i gag\fbb\_`dhk^=:mk^F=mk^2D:56m kAm%96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46 2??@F?465 :E H2D 4=@D:?8 2== u@C6DE $6CG:46 C@25D 29625 @7 E96 DE@C>[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 C@25 E@ E96 %23=6 #@4< !:4?:4 pC62]k^Am kAm%96 q=F6 #:586 !2C<H2J H:== 36 4=@D65 7C@> |:=6A@DE b`c E@ bfd]e 7C@> ?@CE9 @ {:?G:==6 u2==D E@ ~I rC66<[ 2?5 7C@> |:=6A@DE bhd E@ cdd 7C@> E96 }r `h`^uC6?49 qC@25 ~G6C=@@< E@ $@4@ v2A[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C6=62D6 7C@> !2C<H2J @77:4:2=D] %96 {:?G:==6 u2==D r2>A8C@F?5 2?5 !:D829 r2>A8C@F?5 H:== 4=@D6 %9FCD52J >@C?:?8[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 {:?G:==6 u2==D[ rC288J v2C56?D 2?5 (2E6CC@4< z?@3 G:D:E@C 46?E6CD]k^Am Chrissy Murphy is a staff writer and can be reached at cmurphy@morganton.com or at 828-432-8941. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Local Weather Get the daily forecast and severe weather alerts in your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Chrissy Murphy Author email Follow Chrissy Murphy Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular U.S. Department of Agriculture declares 2026 drought a disaster for western NC The counties have seen drought of severe or extreme intensity for eight or more weeks. Little Switzerland Young family tells their Hurricane Helene story "Words cannot describe what we saw." McDowell County area now in extreme drought, but some rain may be in our future Rainfall totals recorded by gages across North Carolina are 10 inches or more below normal for the last six months. Watch Now: Related Video Video released of armed man storming White House correspondents’ dinner Trump Lashes Out At Merz, Says US Considering Troop Cuts In Germany Trump Lashes Out At Merz, Says US Considering Troop Cuts In Germany Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling & What It Could Mean For Midterms Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling & What It Could Mean For Midterms N.C. Wildlife ranger teaches students about black bears N.C. Wildlife ranger teaches students about black bears Recommended for you
Chrissy Murphy Author email Follow Chrissy Murphy Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
U.S. Department of Agriculture declares 2026 drought a disaster for western NC The counties have seen drought of severe or extreme intensity for eight or more weeks.
Little Switzerland Young family tells their Hurricane Helene story "Words cannot describe what we saw."
McDowell County area now in extreme drought, but some rain may be in our future Rainfall totals recorded by gages across North Carolina are 10 inches or more below normal for the last six months.
