One flood that receives minimal mention compared to Hurricane Helene in 2024 and the Great Flood of 1916 is the devastating 1940 flood. Just 24 years after the flood of 1916, western North Carolina was hit again by a slow-moving system, a Category 2 hurricane that made landfall along the South Carolina coastline. The storm hit on August 11, when it moved into parts of Georgia and then turned north, striking North Carolina on August 13th. Over the course of five days, it dumped torrential rainfall in the region.
Rivers became overwhelmed, mudslides became an issue, and mountainsides came crashing down, engulfing homes. The tropical rains caused Wilson Creek to flood, reaching a crest of 94 feet.
Written By John G. Clark Jr.
