Tropical Storm Debby impacts roadways, electricity in Charlotte area

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tropical Storm Debby brought heavy rain and flooding to the Carolinas on Thursday, causing widespread power outages in the Charlotte metro and across the region. 

As of 9:20 a.m., there are over 106,000 power outages across North Carolina and South Carolina. Of those, more than 40,000 are in the Charlotte area, including 22,316 reported outages in Mecklenburg County. More than 8,000 Duke Energy customers are without power in Gaston County, according to the utility’s outage map. 

Debby also took down trees across the Charlotte area, blocking roads and taking down power lines as it creeps north. 

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There is a tree down, blocking inbound lanes of Randolph Road at McAlway Road in southeast Charlotte. 

 A tree fell across the road at the intersection of Park Road and Osprey Drive, near Pineville-Matthews Road, as well. Duke Energy said it had dispatched crews to repair fallen power lines along Beatties Ford Road in northwest Charlotte. 

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A portion of Toby Creek rose over the banks around 9:30 a.m. Emergency Management officials confirmed that Championship Lane was closed due to flooding. 

A large tree fell onto an apartment building along Park Fairfax Road in west Charlotte. Residents told WCNC Charlotte there wasn’t any interior damage to the building. 

Gastonia Police reported a downed tree that wiped out power lines on Union Road near Niblick Drive. Officials said Union Road was closed in both directions and urged drivers to avoid the area. 

In Matthews, Sam Newell Road, just prior to Independence Point Parkway, is closed due to flooding. Officials are urging drivers to use the alternate routes of Highway 51 or Sardis Road North.

Fallen trees are blocking traffic in multiple places in York County, including a large tree blocking Mt. Gallant Road in Rock Hill.

Multiple roads in the Rock Hill area were closed due to flooding. 

• The eastbound ramp from Dave Lyle Boulevard onto Anderso Road (U.S. 21) is currently closed. 
• King Drive at Aaron Avenue is currently impassable due to floodwaters and is closed until further notice. 
• A stretch of Heckle Boulevard is down to one lane between Ogden Road and Friedheim Road. Officials encouraged drivers to take their time and find an alternate route if possible.

Also in York County, a tree is blocking the entire road at Springlake Road and Black Highway and another is blocking Hollbrook Road at Sun Valley Lane in Fort Mill.

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