Another 2-4 inches of rain expected through Wednesday

TRYON — A fallen tree claimed the lives of WYFF News 4 anchor Michael William McCormick, 36, and photojournalist Phillip Aaron Smeltzer, 35, during rains along U.S. 176 in Tryon Monday.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper M.L. Stephens said the call was received around 2:30 p.m. to a collision on the 3000 block of U.S. 176. When troopers arrived, they located a WYFF News 4 vehicle in the road with a tree across it. 

Stephens said the preliminary investigation revealed that the Ford SUV was driving south on U.S. 176 when the tree struck. Smeltzer was driving the vehicle, with McCormick as the passenger, Stephens said.

Monday’s accident was the third death along U.S. 176 due to heavy rains in just over a week. On Friday, May 18, a mudslide in the 3900 block of U.S.176 claimed the life of 59-year-old Patricia Case, of Tryon.

Tryon Fire Chief Geoffrey Tennant said during a news conference Monday that the engine of the SUV was running and the transmission was in drive when first responders arrived. The tree that hit the vehicle was large, estimated at 3 feet in diameter.

Tennant said, in his 44 years in fire service in Polk County, he has never seen an event like it.

Tennant also said Monday’s accident affected him personally because he had just done an interview with McCormick. 

“We had talked a little bit about how he wanted us to stay safe and I wanted him to stay safe and of course, 10 or 15 minutes later, we got the call, and it was him and his photographer,” Tennant said. “It’s the first time I ever met either one of those two gentlemen, but you feel a sense of responsibility to them.”

The death of the journalists made national headlines Monday evening, with CNN among the media outlets reporting the incident.

“All of us at WYFF News 4 are grieving,” said the news station about the death of the staff members. “We are a family and we thank you, our extended family, for your comfort as we mourn and as we seek to comfort the families of Mike and Aaron.”

U.S. 176 was closed Monday to all except residents who chose to stay in their homes.

Polk County Manager Marche Pittman said two people stayed at the county’s shelter, located at Polk County Middle School. As of Tuesday morning, one person remained at the shelter.

There was also a confirmed mudslide off U.S. 176 Monday, with no apparent damage, Pittman said. Monday’s mudslide was behind the former Tryon Youth Center, across from where last week’s mudslides occurred on U.S. 176.

The county issued a voluntary evacuation of U.S. 176 as well as several other areas in the county ahead of expected heavy rains through the middle of the week. There were over 100 people who contacted the county saying they were either evacuating or had summer homes and no one was there.

“There were likely more that left [Monday] and just didn’t contact us,” Pittman said.

Pittman said U.S. 176 will remain closed until the rain event stops.

The National Weather Service said Tuesday that 2-6 inches of rain were expected through Wednesday morning, with flash flood watches in effect in western North Carolina and a risk for strong storms and wind gusts.

“Voluntary evacuations are still recommended until the end of the rain event,” stated a notice from Polk County Government. “There could be limited access from public safety responders to already identified voluntary evacuation areas.”

Pittman said the county’s emergency operations center was active until around 8 p.m. Monday, located in the Womack building in Columbus, and staff was prepared to come back in if needed. Pittman said local fire departments and law enforcement were out checking homes Monday night.

The shelter will remain open as long as there is a need, Pittman said.

“The school system has been really good to work with us,” Pittman said.

Areas recommended for voluntary evacuations include Page Farm Road; Brookwood subdivision; U.S. 176, from North Wall Road to 3910; Warrior Drive, from Baker Drive to Meadowlark Drive; Meadowlark Drive and intersecting roads; Walcot Farm Lane; Miller Mountain Road; Rixhaven subdivision; Green River Cove Road; and Holbert Cove Road.

The month of May has already received more than double its normal rainfall at 8.7 inches as of Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The month of May for the Tryon recording center normally receives 4.25 inches of rain. Tuesday’s heavy rain totals were not available by press time.

Other news outlets have said Polk County has received 19 inches of rain since May 15.