By Erin Smith
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Bladen County Emergency Services personnel said on Thursday afternoon, they are keeping a watchful eye on the Cape Fear River. The river is overflowing its banks and is expected to continue to overflow its banks through early next week.
Bladen County Emergency Management Director Bradley Kinlaw met with members of the Kelly Fire Department on Thursday afternoon and said they do not have any major concerns for the diem system.
“There will be some water that comes back through the dike (due to the breaches caused by Hurricane Florence),” said Kinlaw.
He said the gauge at the William Huske Lock and Dam No. 1 near East Arcadia, which is close to Kelly, was reading 20.8 feet. Flood stage for that location is 24 feet and the river is forecast to crest at 24.4 feet on Sunday. Kinlaw said that is six feet lower than the crest which occurred after Hurricane Florence.
“That shouldn’t cause any problems, but this is the first time we have experienced any thing like this since the breach (of the dike) has occurred,” said Kinlaw.
He added, while Emergency Services personnel are prepared to act in the event evacuations are needed.
In Elizabethtown, the high waters of the Cape Fear River have halted two projects taking place along the river. One project involves the removal of a log jam at the base of the US 701 southbound bridge in Elizabethtown and the attempt to repair a scour hole in the base of the William O. Huske Lock and Dam No. 2 near Elizabethtown.
Assistant Town Manager Pat DeVane said, “I talked to someone from the Corps of Engineers. They said this high water is not supposed to be like it was after hurricane.”
He said for safety reasons, crews working on both projects were advised to halt their work until the river recedes early next week.
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