Flood warning issued for Neuse River

Although the National Weather Service issued a flood warning Thursday morning for the Neuse River as it reached its flood stage level, local emergency officials said the river should be much higher before there is a serious risk of flooding.

The NWS’ Newport office issued the alert at 9:43 a.m. after the river had reached its flood stage of 14 feet by 9 a.m. Forecasters expect it to reach 14.4 feet by Saturday morning.

“At 14.0 feet … water will begin to overflow into lowlands adjacent to the river,” the warning stated.

Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Roger Dail said there was no cause for concern yet, though.

“The river would have to get to 21, 22 feet before it caused any problems,” he said.

Dail said the river would have to reach the 22-foot height before water could be seen in the streets.

Susan Buchanan, spokeswoman with the National Weather Service, said weather forecasters work closely with local emergency managers in communities across the country to keep residents aware of potential flood situations.

“It’s a close partnership … we’re watching the rivers and we’re watching the weather, and they’re assessing the risk and issuing guidance,” she said of emergency managers.

John Schmidt, a hydrologist with the NWS’ Southeast River Forecast Center in Atlanta, said 14 feet is considered minor for the Neuse River.

“When we get into these categories of moderate and major, that’s when we start to see impacts to infrastructure and property,” he said. “Folks who live near the river should be in tune to what the impact might be, or what river height creates a concern for them.”

David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.

Kinston flood stages
The National Weather service lists on its Web site the impacts of flood stages on each community. Here are their stats for Kinston:
-14 feet: Water flows onto land adjacent to the river
-17 feet: Widespread lowland flooding; Neuseway Nature Center is affected
-21 feet: Southeast Kinston homes and businesses affected, especially Rivermont; potential for evacuation, Contentnea Creek and other tributaries start backing up
-24.5 feet: Intersection of U.S. 258 and U.S. 70 flooded; “All major highways on the south side of Kinston become impassable.”
-27 feet: Disaster comparable to Hurricane Floyd

On the Web
For more information visit erh.noaa.gov/mhx, click on the “Rivers & Lakes AHPS” link, a map will come up, click on Kinston for local data. Or, contact the NWS’ Newport office at 252-223-5122.