Canton mayor warns of potentially catastrophic flooding as town activates preparedness steps

Mayor Zeb Smathers warned residents at a Sept. 26 special called meeting that forecasts for the approaching storm could lead to catastrophic flooding and urged vigilance as the town activated emergency preparations. He said Canton had started planning early, had been in contact with Governor Cooper and with Asheville’s mayor, and that the National Guard would be present in Canton that day.

The mayor and board emphasized preemptive actions to protect residents. Interim Town Manager Stinnett told the board crews were on standby, that she had reached out to local businesses to establish lines of communication, and that the town’s departments were coordinating on flood response. Alderwoman Mull and Aldermen Hamlett and Shepard publicly thanked town employees for preparedness work; Alderwoman Proctor reminded residents to subscribe to Haywood Alerts and follow town social channels for timely updates.

During public comment, Becky Johnson of the Mountaineer asked for an updated river crest level; Interim Manager Stinnett said the latest report showed 19.2 feet. Carl Cortwright said Western Carolina University had canceled classes, and asked whether the wastewater treatment plant and Lake Logan Dam had been prepared; Mayor Smathers said the town had reached out to Evergreen regarding plant preparations. Cory Vallaincourt of the Smoky Mountain News noted his outlet had recently won awards for local reporting, an acknowledgment the board and staff recognized.

Town staff also identified the Clyde Armory as an available emergency shelter and reiterated safety precautions and evacuation planning. The meeting ended with the board entering a closed session on attorney-client matters before adjourning at 5:54 p.m.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Oct. 10, 2024, and encouraged residents to monitor official alerts for updates and evacuation instructions if conditions worsen.