The Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency held a media briefing this afternoon (Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019) to update local residents on the current situation concerning the flooding of Weiss Lake.

Cherokee County EMA Director Shawn Rogers, Cherokee County Probate Judge/Commission Chairman Tim Burgess, Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver and Cherokee County Engineer Corey Chambers all spoke concerning ongoing recovery efforts.

At this time, the Cherokee County Emergency Operations Center is fully staffed 24 Hrs./day and activated until the situation deescalates.

There are currently hundreds of campgrounds surrounding Weiss Lake that are experiencing severe flood levels. The Cherokee County Rescue Squad has made a total of four water rescues from campground areas and the electricity to many of those areas has been shut off.

There have been a number of septic holding tanks that have dislodged from campers and floating in the lake. There are also a number of propane tanks that have dislodged from campers and homes that are floating in the lake. As companies have been contacted and are making arrangements to have those removed as soon as possible.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is asking that if you find property that does not belong to you that floated onto your property, please do not remove it. Sheriff Shaver stated that there were four arrests made on Sunday for looting.

There are a number of roads that have been deemed impassable:

*County Road 144 (between Highway 68 & County Road 553 in Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 535 (Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 1008 (Island Subdivision, Cedar Bluff)
*A portion of County Road 432
*A portion of County Road 450
*The State Docks On Alabama Hwy 9N (Cedar Bluff)
*Quail Run Drive (off of Sewell Ferry Rd, Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 177 (Spring Garden)
*Cedar Street @ Reese Street (Cedar Bluff)
*Dead End of Reese Street (Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 30 (between CR 13 & CR 93)
*Lakewood Lane (Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 540, Loop Road (Centre)
*Jordan Drive (Centre)
*County Road 600 (Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 728 (Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 275 (Mouth Park)
*County Road 673 (Centre)
*Hidden Cove Lane (Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 932 (Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 723 (Waterhouse Campground)
*County Road 725 (Waterhouse Campground)
*Graves Three Rivers Landing (Cedar Bluff)
*State Docks On Alabama Hwy 68E (Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 80 (Gaylesville)
*Big Nose Drive (Centre)
*County Road 44 (Dead End in Cedar Bluff)
*County Road 78 (Mud Creek)

This list will be updated frequently on our Facebook page.

Two homes were damaged by falling trees on Sunday; one in Cedar Bluff and one in Ellisville.

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency is asking that residents not enter flooded areas for the purpose of sight seeing and taking photos. This is a safety hazard and is a hinderance to those property owners that trying to salvage/save their property.

Alabama Marine Police are asking that boaters refrain from being on the lake until the flood waters have receded, there is a large amount of debris including entire docks and fishing piers among other things.

The Cherokee County EMA, County Commission, Sheriff’s Office and local municipal governments are discussing the possible need of implementing a curfew. At this time no decision has been made.

Cherokee County Schools will be closed on Monday due to the effects of the flooding. Cherokee County Superintendent of Education Mitchell Guice, Transportation Superintendent Harold Pearson and County Engineer Corey Chambers will reevaluate the situation regarding the remainder of the week.

There has been a shelter established for those families that have been displaced. The Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency is opening a shelter at the Cherokee County Health & Rehab Activity Building. This shelter will be supported by the American Red Cross. Hot meals, restrooms, showers and cots will be available.

While it is unfortunate, due to allergies and other issues there will not be any animals allowed in the shelter. Please make suitable arrangements for your pets prior to coming to the shelter. EMA is continuously working to try and find a solution.

We will continue to provide updates throughout the remainder of this event.