Apartment complex in Catawba Co. forced to evacuate due to severe flooding

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Due to severe flooding in Catawba County residents at an apartment complex were forced to evacuate Sunday afternoon.  

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners declared a State of Emergency at 8:00 a.m. Sunday due to excessive rainfall since Friday which is expected to continue for several more days.

Residents at Ridgecrest Apartment in Hickory have been relocated to a temporary shelter set up at Catawba Valley Community College Tarlton Complex.

The shelter is staffed by county personnel and American Red Cross volunteers and is providing cots, blankets, restrooms, showers, food, and a mobile pet shelter for evacuated residents. 

NBC Charlotte’s Meteorologist Chris Mulcahy estimates about 6-10 inches of rain has fallen over the past 60 hours and he expects another 1-4 inches of rain to fall across the area Sunday.

Catawba County officials said the flooding has resulted in numerous water rescues, infrastructure damage, hazardous travel conditions and residents in the area are experiencing a wide spread of power outages.

Stick with NBC Charlotte for the latest updates on weather.