News Flash

Lincoln County Prepares for Hurricane Michael

Lincolnton, NC – With the latest forecast showing Michael making landfall in the Florida panhandle this afternoon and turning North East towards North Carolina, Lincoln County Emergency Management is urging all residents, businesses and visitors to prepare for the storm.  The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center shows Michael making landfall as a Category 4 Hurricane this afternoon and tracking toward North Carolina overnight and into Thursday afternoon. 

According to the National Weather Service, Lincoln County may start seeing the effects of Hurricane Michael as soon as 8pm tonight possibly lasting through the majority of Thursday.  National Weather Service is anticipating Lincoln County to receive between 6 to 8 inches of rain and a potential of wind gusts up to 40 miles per house during the duration of Hurricane Michael passing through the area.  The highest risk factor for Lincoln County residents may be flooding in some areas. 

Lincoln County Emergency Management will be operating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and will be manning it until the evening hours of Wednesday night and will resume operations early Thursday morning.  The Emergency Management Information Line, 704-479-2079, has been activated and will be functional for the duration of the event.  If the line is not answered, Emergency Management staff will continue to monitor messages and attempt to return all calls in a timely manner. 

Officials are continuing to monitor the weather and forecasts and are prepared to make emergency response related decisions including and up to the opening of shelter(s) should the need arise. Please stay tuned to your local weather provider or news source. The National Weather Service is a good resource for information concerning the expected impacts of the storm.

https://www.weather.gov/

Contact:
Ronald D. Rombs Jr, Public Information Officer
rrombs@lincolne911.org
(704) 685-2559