Raleigh lowers lakes to prepare for flooding, impacts of Hurricane Debby

Crews in Raleigh began preparing for Hurricane Debby over the weekend. Heavy rainfall is the major concern for this area, which is why the city began lowering lakes.

Raleigh’s Emergency Management and Stormwater teams have been working closely with emergency management and made the call early to lower city lakes. This allows them to store more water and helps reduce flooding concerns along Walnut Creek. 

The Carolina coast is already seeing the impacts of Debby. Red flags are flying at Wrightsville Beach, where they’re warning people to stay out of the water as conditions become dangerous.

Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue Captain Sam Proffitt said the coast will begin feeling the effects of the swell, so things like rip currents become very dangerous.

“We don’t want people even going out even knee high,” Proffitt said. “You do go out, you do become in trouble, that’s now putting our lifeguards in unnecessary risk to go and rescue you when it’s been very clear you should not be getting in the ocean.”

And officials said those conditions will likely get worse over the next few days since North Carolina is in Debby’s path.