Steady Rains Cause Flooding In Cumberland County

Nearly 4 1/2 inches of rain fell Tuesday night in parts of Cumberland County, and rain was expected to linger through Thursday.

Flash flood warnings were issued for Cumberland and Sampson counties until dawn and a flash flood watch remained in effect for Sampson County throughout the day.

Voluntary evacuations took place in downtown Fayetteville at Waterless and Taft streets Tuesday night.

Authorities say a nearby construction project is being blamed for the rising waters at West Mobile Home Park off Cumberland Road near Parnell Pool. Only five families were affected.

The water started rising around 9 p.m. Tuesday and kept getting higher throughout the night until it was nearly waist deep.

"We came out here, moved the cars and went back in the house and hoped the water would come back down a little bit, but it never did. It kept coming up and up and eventually we had to leave," resident Lewis Dees said.

To try and prevent Buckhead Creek from overflowing into the park, the owner built a retaining wall a few years ago.

The Department of Transportation hopes to fix the problem by widening Cumberland Road in front of the homes.

"We're taking out three existing pipes that have been here for 30 years. We are replacing them with concrete culverts," said Randy Wise, of the state Department of Transportation.

The culverts should be in place within 4 months, but Tupone says that may not be soon enough for her family.

"Hopefully when they get it done, it will be better, but I'm planning on moving out. I'm going to higher ground," she said.

The five families living in the mobile home park have since returned home. In the height of the storm, about 1,100 people were without power after a car hydroplaned into a tree. Everyone's power has since been restored.