Polk sets up shelter beginning Saturday at middle school

POLK COUNTY — With 30 inches of rain dumped on the North Carolina coast from Hurricane Florence by Friday morning, Polk County officials are preparing for a predicted 6 to 10 inches of rain coming to the area Sunday and Monday.

Polk County will set up a shelter at the middle school, located on Wolverine Trail in Mill Spring, beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Tryon Fire Department said beginning sometime Sunday and through Monday, the area is expecting 6 to 10 inches of rain in Polk County, with a possibility of 20 inches of rain in some areas. The fire department warned Friday of potential flooding and/or mudslides.

“Because of our experience with the mudslides and flooding in May of this year, we want to make you aware of the situation so that you can make plans for your family while you have time and options,” the Tryon Fire Department said in a release Friday.

“Please be advised that we believe this threat to be real and urge you to respond quickly.”

The real threat is U.S. 176 in the Pacolet Valley of Tryon. On May 18, mudslides occurred in that area, which took one life. A little over a week later, two more lives were taken when a tree fell on their vehicle after the area received an estimated more than 20 inches of rain in a two-week period.

Tryon Town Manager Zach Ollis said Thursday that town officials have met with county and state administrative teams, with agencies including 911 communications; Polk County Emergency Management; the Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Columbus, Saluda and Tryon fire departments; the department of social services; Polk County Animal Control; the American Red Cross; Polk County Schools; and the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center.

“Currently, we have plans to go door to door and provide information regarding the dangers facing the Pacolet Valley, U.S. Highway 176, East Howard and surrounding areas,” Ollis said. “Our main priorities to address with citizens are flooding and mudslides due to excess rain. We are attempting to give them advanced notice in case they choose to evacuate on their own. We will begin going door to door [Friday] to speak with homeowners and deliver information regarding the current situation.”

Tryon has swift water rescue teams in place, and the Red Cross is working to get extra equipment and equipment in the area before Sunday.

Anyone with large animals, including horses, can contact Polk County Animal Control, but space is limited. For small animals, area officials are working on a solution, as the Foothills Humane Society is full.

Polk County worked with Northbrook Power to lower the levels of Lake Adger by 5 feet prior to the storm.

The National Weather Service has put Polk County’s heaviest rain coming early Sunday.

Wind is no longer as much of a threat, as Hurricane Florence hit the coast Friday morning as a Category 1 hurricane, but its slow movement over the ocean brought heavy rains and storm surge to the eastern areas Friday.

People can call 211 for information regarding shelters.

People can also visit polknc.info, follow the Polk County Local Government Facebook and Twitter pages, and sign up for NIXLE text alerts by sending a text message to 888777 with “WEG2018” in the message.

Important phone numbers:

Polk County Fire Marshal/Emergency Management: 828-894-6342

Polk County 911 Communications: 828-894-0188

Polk County Sheriff’s Office: 828-894-3001

Red Cross Shelter information: 211

Emergency: 911