Gaston County braces for flash flooding, downed trees Thursday

CRAMERTON, N.C. — Gaston County Emergency Management is warning residents to brace for flash flooding and gusty winds during Thursday’s storms.

The department is expecting flooding in low-lying areas, particularly near the South Fork Catawba River.

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Spokesman Bill Melton warned people to stay away from the river and avoid roads with standing water.

“Last year, we were tracking water moving on the South Fork at close to 70 miles per hour,” Melton said. “Stay out of the water and stay away from the edges of the water.”

Gaston County EMS’ swift water rescue team spent Wednesday afternoon checking equipment before Thursday’s storms.

The county’s also expecting strong winds, which could knock down trees and cause power outages.

Christian Sanders of Carolina Tree Management expects field lots of phone calls following the storms.

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He recommends homeowners walk around their property after the storms.

“Assess the damage to the tops of the trees because it’s hard to see what’s under the ground,” Sanders said. “If you can see in the tops that something’s broken, then that indicates that the tree was weak.”

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