Emergency Management Gives Update on Kelly Situation

Written by By Erin Smith

UPDATED at of 2:30 pm Friday, September 21: Bladen County Emergency Management Officials are closely monitoring the situation in Kelly with the White Oak Dike. The dike, which measures 14 miles, does have two major breaches that measure 20 to 30 feet and at least six smaller ones, according to Bladen County Emergency Management Director, Bradley Kinlaw. The dike was breached on Thursday afternoon.

As of Friday morning, Kelly was accessible only by air, according to officials. The Cape Fear River was not expected to crest before Saturday in that location. The National Weather Service reported the latest observed value was 30.62 feet at 9:45 a.m. on Friday. This will be a new record. The old record was 29.8 feet recorded on September 23, 1945, according to the National Weather Service.

Kinlaw said 62 people were evacuated by helicopter from the town of Kelly on Thursday afternoon. He said four helicopters were landed near the Post Office, and the evacuees were flown to Kinston. The decision to fly the evacuees to Kelly was not a local decision, but rather the decision of the “air bosses” with the Air National Guard. Kinlaw said, during the operation there were approximately 7 helicopters on stand-by if needed in support of the operation.

“Some Bladen County Officers accompanied the evacuees in the aircraft,” said Kinlaw.

Emergency Management Officials are now working on a plan to bring the evacuees back to Bladen County.

The Kelly Fire Department and EMS have relocated all of their equipment out of their buildings to higher ground in anticipation of the flooding. The firefighters and National Guardsmen who were stationed in Kelly have also been evacuated, said Kinlaw.

“We are doing an aerial assessment this morning to determine if we can still get down some roads in the daylight, or if there is another angle from which we can put in a boat,” said Kinlaw.

He estimated between 50 and 75 residents still remain in Kelly as of Friday morning.

When asked how deep the flood waters are anticipated to rise, Kinlaw said this was a new situation. He said water has never gone around or through the dike.

Kinlaw said the first issue with the dike was noticed on Thursday morning when it was learned the water was coming around the end of the dike. The dike was built after the community flooded in 1945. In a normal situation, water is not pressing against the dike, said Kinlaw.

He said water was going to continue to pour into the town until the river level and the water in the town equalize. Kinlaw said Emergency Management officials do not have an estimate regarding how deep the water may get in the town.

A 300-man rescue team is stationed at East Bladen High School and is ready to assist Bladen, Columbus and Robeson county, said Kinlaw. “We still have a contingent of numerous out-of-state resources from EMS, Nurses, and a swift water rescue team from Buncombe County,” said Kinlaw.

He also reported there have been 340 rescues in the county to date, and 331 residents remain without power. The river has crested in Elizabethtown and flood waters are receding in Tar Heel. The County remains under a curfew from 9 PM until 7 AM.

From Bladen County Emergency Management : Effective Immediately as of 1:40 pm

We have been told that the Cell Phone and Landline Phone Service within the Kelly area will be compromised until further notice.

If you need evacuation, please call 911 immediately.

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