Hurricane Helene Updates

Published on September 26, 2024

Grayscale aerial view of CMGC building

Flash flooding is expected in the Mountain Island Lake area. Flood waters will rise rapidly and conditions will change quickly. Residents in the area should plan to evacuate. A shelter is open at Tuckaseegee Rec Center at 4820 Tuckaseegee Rd.

What to take in an evacuation:

  • Electronic Devices and Chargers.
  • Medications.
  • Personal hygiene items.
  • Identification and Important Papers.
  • Driver's License, Passport, Marriage Certificate, House Deed, etc.
  • Medical/dental/prescription insurance cards, etc.
  • Health-care proxy and/or power of attorney.
  • Cash/Credit Cards.
  • Family Supplies.
  • Infant formula, bottles, wipes, diapers.
  • Pet supplies.
  • Food.
  • Leash, collar, identification, etc.
  • Change of clothing.

Evacuation Zones

The map below shows voluntary and mandatory evacuation zones.

Mandatory: Riverside drive – Riverhaven drive.

Voluntary: Allison Ferry and north side of Mountain Island.

Map showing voluntary and madatory evacuation zones

The City of Charlotte has been in contact with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office (CMEMO) regarding the severe weather conditions related to Hurricane Helene. CMEMO is closely monitoring the storm and will provide updates as it progresses. All residents are encouraged to prepare for any potential impacts.

During storms, the city's landscape management team's first priority is to clear roads of debris to provide, at minimum, single-lane access for first responders along major thoroughfares and priority sites such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations and MEDIC stations. Once these areas are cleared, Landscape Management will focus on clearing single-lane access on secondary roads and all-lane access for non-emergency vehicles. This includes driveways, sidewalks, bike lanes, etc. Learn more about storm management and view a map of downed tree and limb requests.


How to Prepare for Severe Weather

  • Stay tuned to weather updates - follow the National Weather Service, local media outlets, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management social media feeds for updated weather information.
  • Sign up for CharMeck Alerts - register to receive location-specific emergency alerts.
  • Residents can check local rainfall amounts and creek levels.
  • Build an emergency kit - get the items you might need for 72 hours:
    • Non-perishable food.
    • Water (one gallon per person per day).
    • Flashlights with extra batteries.
    • Medications.
    • First-aid kit.
    • Back-up battery.
    • Pet supplies.
    • Other items specific to your family's needs.

Know Who to Call

  • For emergencies, please call 9-1-1. You can be routed to police, fire, or medic.
  • To report a downed tree that is fully or partially blocking a road, call 9-1-1.
  • For non-emergency situations, please call 3-1-1. Examples include:
    • Reporting storm drain blockages or creek blockages.
    • Reporting water and wastewater emergencies.
    • Reporting downed trees in yards that do not pose a safety risk.
  • For power outages, call your energy provider.

As always, you can follow Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram for updates.

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