Flash flooding in Foothills prompts swift water rescue teams to deploy

LENOIR, N.C. — Flash flooding in Caldwell County Thursday night prompted six swift water rescue teams to respond, with the Colletsville and Patterson fire departments working to rescue residents, including Danni Ferguson, who was caught in the high waters.

PAST COVERAGE: Flash flooding hits Caldwell County after strong storms

Ferguson said she had just moved her SUV to higher ground but she got stuck in the flood waters trying to walk back to her grandmother’s home.

She told Channel 9’s Dave Faherty she grabbed onto a bush after Blair Creek rose 10 to 15 feet.

“It was freezing,” Ferguson said. “I thought it was the end of my life. I was done. I held on to that bush for dear life. That’s all I could hold on to.”

“(I was) scared because I couldn’t find where she was at,” said Ginny McJunkin, Ferguson’s grandmother. “She kept yelling, Granny, granny,’ but I couldn’t find her.”

Cristal Rice, who lives down the road, cleaned up a muddy mess in her basement Friday that filled with 6 feet of water during the storm.

“We’re dragging everything out,” Rice said. “I lost everything, my chainsaws, lawn mower. Everything. My washer and dryer. It’s all destroyed. My swimming pool is right over there.”

The day before, Faherty saw workers at nearby businesses scrambling to move their vehicles as the water rose from the 3 inches of rainfall that fell in an hour.

No one was hurt during the flash flood and families worked all day Friday to clear the debris from the creek. Ferguson is thankful for the first responders who rescued her.

“If they didn’t come when they did, I would have let go of that tree at some point and I probably wouldn’t be here,” she said.

Rice is hoping the area gets help from the state. She told Faherty she’s already reached out to the governor and FEMA for assistance.

Faherty also captured video footage of the flooding on Main Street in Lenoir, showing cars submerged in the rising waters. The storm also caused significant flooding affecting along Zacks Ford Road, and more.

VIDEO: Flash flooding hits Caldwell County after strong storms