A state of emergency was called in Catawba County, North Carolina on Sunday, as two reportedly drowned from heavy rains causing neighboring towns to flood, CNN reported on Monday. The town of Lincoln County, for instance, saw 8 to 10 inches of rain in 12 hours, county emergency management spokesman Dion Burleson said.
More than 240 properties have been affected by the floods, news reports said.
Heavy rains caused power outages and flash floods throughout western North Carolina, and were blamed for the deaths of a 10-year-old girl and 48-year-old man who were swept away while swimming in a rural creek, the Weather Channel reported. The two deceased were identified as Juan Alberdi of Huntersville and Delilah Lovett of Charlotte.
Parts of Catawba, Lincoln and Cleveland received up to a foot of rain Saturday as a result of a slow-moving rain system, the Weather Channel also reported.
Damage assessment teams found that seven homes and three businesses suffered major damage, and more than two-dozen roads are closed or impassible due to standing water or flood damage, county officials said.
Sections of at least six roads have remained closed for up to three months to repair damage, officals said, and Interstate 85 was closed for a short time Saturday afternoon in Cabarrus County because of high water, the State Highway Patrol said.
First responders made five rescue attemps as of late Saturday afternoon.
