Thomasville Officials Urge Residents to Heed Weather Alerts After Storm Damage and Evacuations
{Davie County water rescue team helps to evacuate a person from a car in Thomasville.}
By Davidson Local Staff
Thomasville emergency officials are urging residents to take weather alerts seriously after heavy storms swept through the area, causing flash flooding, vehicle rescues, and emergency evacuations.
The most recent warning came Thursday morning at 8:48 a.m., when Nixle issued a Severe Flood Warning for the area, in effect until 2 p.m. The alert cautioned that neighborhoods near creeks and rivers could be “inundated with water and may not be passable.”
Davidson Local received several calls from residents unfamiliar with Nixle or how the alert system works. City officials emphasized the credibility of the alerts, clarifying that they are not computer-generated spam. “This isn’t just AI — they have the more accurate information,” one official said.
Nixle uses mobile technology to send emergency alerts based on a person’s real-time location. Deputy City Manager Eddie Bowling likened it to an Amber Alert. “When you get those alerts, they’re location-based. It’s almost like a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), but focused on our local area,” Bowling explained.
“They use radar and weather spotters,” he added. “Say they see a rotating cloud over Thomasville — you can click on it and get live information.” Bowling said the National Weather Service is working closely with local emergency teams to monitor changing conditions and provide updates in real time.
Thomasville Fire Chief Jason Myers said the storms moved in quickly, bringing more rain than anticipated. “This was unexpected — it was moving around us, and it happened quickly,” Myers said.
Emergency crews responded to multiple rescue calls across the city and nearby areas. A couple and their dog were safely evacuated from a home on Veach Farm Road after water began flooding a home. A man and his dog were rescued from high water along and another person was pulled from a vehicle stranded in floodwaters on Kanoy Road. In total, several residents and family pets were rescued with the support of a coordinated, multi-agency response.
The rescue effort involved NC Highway Patrol, the Davie County Swift Water Team, Thomasville Fire Department, and Pilot Fire Department. Two Thomasville firefighters were paired with outside crews to cover multiple areas impacted by rising water.. Myers warned, “It’s amazing how little water it takes to flood a vehicle.”
While the city was hit hard, officials noted that the flooding was not nearly as severe as what nearby High Point experienced during the same storm system.
Officials also used the opportunity to deliver a direct public safety message. “We witnessed it ourselves,” said Myers. “The Department of Transportation placed barricades — and we still had at least three vehicles plunge into the water. Do not go around barricades. They are there for a reason. Do not drive your vehicle into water.”
Despite ongoing rain, Solid Waste officials confirmed the city’s drinking water supply has not been impacted. Meteorologists estimate that as much as half a foot of rain could fall over the next few days, and officials urge the public to stay alert.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts through Nixle, a free, secure system designed to keep people informed about local weather, road closures, and emergency instructions.
To sign up via text, send your ZIP code (e.g., 27360) to 888777. You can also sign up online at www.nixle.com.
