By: Charlotte Smith
Updated: According to members of the Kelly Fire Department stationed at White Lake Fire Department the waters are still rising in Kelly. The Kelly area is only accessible by air at this time.
Bradley Kinlaw with the Bladen County Emergency Operations Center reported 62 people were evacuated by helicopter last night, Thursday, September 20. The evacuees were flown to Kinston, a decision made by the Air National Guard. They were flown in Chinook helicopters and Blackhawk helicopters according to Kinlaw.
At this time there is no measurement of just how much the water has risen because the water is still rising and the area has been evacuated. Helicopters are still touring Bladen County assessing the damages and searching for citizens in need.
On Friday at 11 a.m. the Bladen County Emergency Operations Center released the following statement:
The evacuation order is still in effect for the Kelly area residents as roads are impassible by passenger vehicles. Although the water levels around the Rowan community are dropping, the Cape Fear River water levels at Lock and Dam No. 1 are continuing to rise and are expected to continue to flood at historic levels within the Kelly area.
Residents are encouraged to evacuate and to avoid travel to Kelly.
Please contact 911 if you need to evacuate and cannot do so safely.
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