MOTHER NATURE BRINGS MUCH NEEDED RAIN TO LINCOLN

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLN COUNTY -- As clouds thickened around Lincoln County Wednesday afternoon, Sgt. Willie Vaughn with Lincolnton Police kept his eye on the skies.

"It's going to rain and thunder soon," said Vaughn. Within minutes, rain started falling in sheets and thunder could be heard. "I told you," smiled Vaughn.

Lincoln County experienced a torrential rain Wednesday afternoon. Exclusive video on The Carolina Scoop shows just how heavy the rain was, especially the rain puddling on East Main Street, Poplar Street and other streets around Lincolnton.

Torrential rains early Wednesday morning made flooding tough in the easternmost parts of the Charlotte region. Anson County, for example, was deluged by rain early. Roads were reported closed there throughout the morning. And while there weren't any road closures reported in Lincoln County, the pooling water on the raod made driving dangerous. And, for police caught in the downpour, rain gear didn't seem to be enough.

Officer Dan Renn was a prime example. Despite wearing his rain gear while directing school traffic during the downpour, he still became soaked.

"The raincoats are all we've got," said Chief Dean Abernathy.

While police planned to work an increased number of wrecks during the rain, emergency service workers were on standby to answer an increased number of calls, especially related to alarms being set off by the thunder.

A second band of heavy showers passed through Lincoln Wednesday night, as many families went to church. The sound of rain hitting the roof could be heard at New Vision Ministries. Pastor Scott Mann told parishoners he was encouraged by the turnout of the Wednesday night service.

"We're not letting the rain get us down," said Mann at the beginning of the service.

Trees were reported down with wave two of the storm. One tree was reported down in front of Sidetracks Bar and Grill on east Highway 150. Another tree was reported down on Golf Course Road.

For more information on the weather, click The Weather Channel link above the Tindalls Professional Photography advertisement.