ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Rowan County officials told Channel 9 they had a busy Monday afternoon after heavy rain triggered severe flooding across the area.
Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the county and could see several areas underwater, including an athletic field that looked more like a lake.
Floodwaters rose so high in the area and so quickly, rescue teams were called in and some homes were severely damaged.
Officials said around 5 p.m., the Salisbury Fire Department responded to a water rescue in the Hidden Creek subdivision near Jake Alexander Boulevard.
From Chopper 9, we could see the area underwater after early morning downpours had flooded the streets. Crews could be seen hopping in boats to performing water rescues.
Busy afternoon for SFD and the Special Ops Task Force. Wellington Hills subdivision and Sacred Heart Church were just a couple of the areas that had severe flash flooding and several water rescues. Also several vehicles damaged. Waters are receding. pic.twitter.com/KSzAbdtEJq
— Salisbury NC Fire (@SalisburyNCFire) August 31, 2020
To put how much rain Rowan County got in perspective, Chief Meteorologist Steve Udelson said they got nearly a months-worth of rain in just a couple hours span.
Residents from nearly a half dozen homes in the Wellington Hills community were forced to evacuate. One neighbor showed Channel 9 the damage inside his home. All of the rooms were covered in mud.
Our crews could even see where the floor buckled from all the water.
“Absolutely destroyed,” said. “Unexplainable. I don’t even know what to say.”
Everyone who spoke to our crews said they have never experienced flooding like this.
“I think we’re all in shock,” resident Joanne Lovings. “I mean everybody was watching this float right down into the creek.”
Officials called on the American Red Cross to help those families who lost their homes.
No one was hurt.
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