#Helene #Asheville PD: **Mandatory evacuation of the Swannanoa River Valley area is in place**
**If you are in the river valley anywhere between Asheville and Black Mountain, and especially downstream of the North Fork Reservoir, leave now. **
"Due to the catastrophic rain in the area, the North Fork Reservoir auxiliary spillway has been activated. The dam is performing as designed, and the volume of water flowing downstream will increase as the storm intensifies...."
"...Due to the high risk, a MANDATORY EVACUATION of the Swannanoa River Valley area is in place. All residents within the designated area downstream of the reservoir are required to move to higher ground. If you need assistance to evacuate, please call 911."
@DrTCombs @hydropsyche Hope your family and everyone else there is ok.🙏🏼
@BranwenOShea @DrTCombs @hydropsyche We're still waiting for word from friends and family in Asheville and Black Mountain. They are smart, hardy folk though, and we are hoping for the best
@hydropsyche @DrTCombs Oh, wow. That's hard to take in
@DrTCombs The updates this morning are scary. I'm still wrapping my mind around all the little towns and the Asheville River District just being gone.
@DrTCombs My family confirms things in the Swannonoa valley are bad. Because the tribs all come fiercely off the mountains, the flooding up in each little holler is intense, and Flat Creek has filled the valley floor in Montreat, as well as down along the river in Swannonoa and Black Mountain. The dam at Camp Merri-Mac might be failing? It all sounds super scary.