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We're at the Pointes West Army Resort on a large lake about 20 miles northeast of Augusta, GA. My wife had some foot surgery today, so we have to stick around until a post-op visit next week. So... two weather systems are conspiring to cause some "1,000 year" flooding in the Carolinas this weekend. The forecast from the NWS from Friday morning through Monday morning is calling for:
"...very heavy rainfall..5 to 8 inches will be common with locally higher amounts 9 to 10 inches. There is still considerable uncertainty to the exact locations of the heaviest rainfall. A small shift in the rain bands could influence where the heaviest rain falls. * Significant flooding is possible with this situation. Heavy rainfall rates will produce flash flooding on area creeks and streams. This will also lead to river flooding during the next few days."
Winds are starting to pick up a bit, but still less than 15 MPH. The first bans of rain are supposed to start around midnight tonight. The Corps hasn't issues any directives or warning for this particular recreation area, but I'll check with the offices in the morning. There might be a couple of sleepless nights ahead...
Rob
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2012 F350 DRW Lariat 6.7
PullRite OE 18K, Demco Glide Ride pinbox
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
We are in western NC currently. Arrived yesterday. Our daughter lives 30 minutes away and we will be spending the weekend at her house which was our plan prior to the hurricane. I am happy we will not be stuck in the rig for 3 rainy days. I will have flood worries while we are away from the rig. We are parked on high ground as far away from the creek as possible. Camp management are strategically placing people. Many huge expensive rigs here (not mine!) and some are permanents parked by the creek. I was once parked by a creek here in NC in my pop up, and I laid down to take a nap. Rain started and I heard noise. I looked out and the tiny creek had grown into a nice little river within a few minutes! Yikes. Be aware... I am thinking about my fellow RVer's and hope everyone remains safe.
We were thinking about traveling to the Outer Banks after in about a week. Hope it dries out!
@ Second Chance - I know you are relatively new to this FT experience. 2 years ago in Sept of 2013, when we were just 2 months into our FT experience we were in Longmont CO when they had record rainfalls and a large area was flooded, with multiple rivers cresting, etc. We were in a Fairgrounds campground, had been told we were "most likely" safe, the fairgrounds was often used as an evacuation point for people who needed to bring their livestock in from other areas. Well, 6 hours later we were told to evacuate. We were NOT ready for that, had been in the same spot for 2 weeks, had traded out furniture while in the area and had been rearranging the basement. Tons of stuff to pack up and rearrange quickly. As we emptied the tanks at the dump station, we could see the St. Vrain waters rising and coming closer to the campground. One mistake we made was not checking the fresh water level in our tank, we left the campground in a hurry with an almost empty tank. We also realized both our truck and our second car that we had at that time needed fuel. We had no idea where to go, knew many of the roads were impassable, I-25 was closed north bound, etc. Spent a somewhat sleepless night in a Target parking lot that was slightly higher ground, listening to the sound of the water speeding through the culvert. Then we spent the next morning fueling vehicles, finding somewhere to take on water and planning routes A, B & C to get out of there. Lesson learned - if there's a next time, we'll prepare much better ahead of time so if/when the evacuation request comes we're ready.
@ Second Chance - I know you are relatively new to this FT experience. 2 years ago in Sept of 2013, when we were just 2 months into our FT experience we were in Longmont CO when they had record rainfalls and a large area was flooded, with multiple rivers cresting, etc. We were in a Fairgrounds campground, had been told we were "most likely" safe, the fairgrounds was often used as an evacuation point for people who needed to bring their livestock in from other areas. Well, 6 hours later we were told to evacuate. We were NOT ready for that, had been in the same spot for 2 weeks, had traded out furniture while in the area and had been rearranging the basement. Tons of stuff to pack up and rearrange quickly. As we emptied the tanks at the dump station, we could see the St. Vrain waters rising and coming closer to the campground. One mistake we made was not checking the fresh water level in our tank, we left the campground in a hurry with an almost empty tank. We also realized both our truck and our second car that we had at that time needed fuel. We had no idea where to go, knew many of the roads were impassable, I-25 was closed north bound, etc. Spent a somewhat sleepless night in a Target parking lot that was slightly higher ground, listening to the sound of the water speeding through the culvert. Then we spent the next morning fueling vehicles, finding somewhere to take on water and planning routes A, B & C to get out of there. Lesson learned - if there's a next time, we'll prepare much better ahead of time so if/when the evacuation request comes we're ready.
Good advice, Dale. We have 2/3 fresh water and plenty of fuel in both vehicles. I've just put the bikes on the rack this morning and everything else is already packed up. I'd put the fiver on the truck if it wouldn't cause such a nose-high situation on this campsite that we'd roll out of bed tonight! We're at least 20' above lake level and it's a huge lake. On-site security will be be monitoring the situation 24/7 and is required to notify each campsite in person if the situation changes...
Rob
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2012 F350 DRW Lariat 6.7
PullRite OE 18K, Demco Glide Ride pinbox
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
Living in NC and having personal experience I can’t over emphasis the need to be able to move quick if next to any kind of “stream” or small river especially.
My Mom and Dad were near Pineola camped at (wait for it) “Down by the River” campground back in ’80’s when it was more of a campground and less of a live in.The stream became a river and they just barely got out with water lapping at the Airstream’s front door.Worst of it my mother’s hair got wet getting to the truck from the trailer.Almost two tragedies as opposed to just one.
Not kidding.This can be dangerous in the mountains.Always have plan “B” and “C.”
Thanks for the advise. We will be camping on Bunches Creek in Cherokee, NC all next week, starting Wednesday the 7th through the following Wednesday. According to the weather forecast, the rain is supposed to clear up by then - but one never knows. We may not have to worry about the Cherokee rising, but we have to watch the Creek.
We plan on catching a few trout, not being one!
Chip
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1999 National Tropical Class A gasser
Toad - 2.4l Chevy Cobalt SS with 400k miles and counting.
We're farther up the mountain from Bunches Creek, 9 miles from Cherokee. We've had rain every day for a week and more coming. The river and creeks are higher but not flooding. Just be prepared in case you have to move but there doesn't seem to be any danger.
Had some REALLY heavy rains last night between 10:00 and midnight, then lightened up. Mostly windy right now. This big lake is up about 6" from the run-off. Lost power sometime before 4:00 AM so used the backup coffee-making method (another thread going on that this last week). The forecast calls for about another inch of rain today, then tapering off.
Rob
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2012 F350 DRW Lariat 6.7
PullRite OE 18K, Demco Glide Ride pinbox
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
