FLOODING UPDATE: BLADENBORO

UPDATE:

BLADENBORO – “At 9:30 last night, everything was dry,” Charles R. Peterson, Chairman, District 2 commissioner said. “At 10:00 it was under water. In just 30 minutes.”

Peterson who was battling the elements most of the night was tired after trying to physically shore up the area and taking calls from those who had needs. At 9 a.m. this morning when he went to get some rest, it was drizzling, but he knew more was coming.

“Even though the roads are now open, people need to stay home,” Peterson said. “Last night people were out and trying to drive down Main street and the splashing from their vehicles were popping shop doors open.”

“There is NO reason anyone needs to be on the roads in downtown Bladenboro until the flooding has subsided,” Emily Dowless, Bladenboro business owner said.

According to Mark Hester, pharmacist at The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy said that they spent most of the night getting things up on higher shelves.

“This is not as bad as it was in the last flood, but it’s still bad,” Hester said. “We are just waiting now for the water to abate.”

“Everybody’s calling, everybody’s got water damage,” Peterson said. “People need to stay at home unless it’s an emergency. It’s just the safety part of it. You just need to stay safe and get off these roads if you can – because it’s not over yet.”

Where the new square that was built in Bladenboro – a restoration from the last flood, it’s all dry. The shops on main street are the ones that have been flooding.

The Town of Bladenboro issued an alert, saying, “Downtown is underwater. We have several street closures out. Please stay off the roads!”

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby will be felt today and through tomorrow. Some roads across Bladen County are crumbling and have become unsafe for travel. To let the emergency teams properly do their jobs, please stay off the roads and out of the way of cleanup efforts. The last thing they need is another stranded and stalled car to move.

Use common sense, respect the enormity of this storm and the situations in Bladen County. We will get through this, but at this point, let the storm take it’s toll – and then we can all roll up our sleeves.