Rain, rising waters threaten Mountain Island Lake residents

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Fire Department is closely watching the rising waters rushing down the Catawba River Thursday night.

They are concerned for neighbors who live along Riverside Drive by Mountain Island Lake.

Tommy Daniel lives at the southern end of the road and said he has a sinking feeling.

He has two docks in the back yard and water has dropped about a half a foot since Thursday morning.

Both docks are underwater and more rain is expected in the area.

Daniel spent the afternoon packing up his valuables and moving them to higher ground.

Some of these items were the same threatened when strong rain flooded his entire back yard in May.

Daniel said he received a reverse-911 call warning that water is rolling over the spillway at Mountain Island Lake and the lake is expected to rise.

He begged Duke Energy to open dams downstream.

"Have some mercy on us. I know it has been a very rainy season. I know they can't control that. I also know they can control how much water can be let out," Daniel said.

Channel 9 talked to a Duke Energy representative who said they can't let too much more water go down stream or they will flood people on Lake Wateree.

Those residents are facing the same problems.