TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) – By the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 26, flooding covered portions of nearly a dozen roads in Transylvania County.

Municipal rescue teams from Greensboro and Fayetteville, North Carolina, were called in to assist after the National Weather Service notified emergency management on Thursday, September 26, that Transylvania County could expect up to 20 inches of rain due to the arrival of Tropical Storm Helene .

Flood road closures have popped up in the usual locations across the county, including Hannah Ford Road, Davidson River Road, Hart Road, Cascade Lake Road, Island Ford Road, Merril Lane and Green Road.

LIVE UPDATES: Flooding and power outages were reported prior to Helene’s arrival

A News 13 crew caught an SUV stranded in deep water on Davidson River Road. News 13 quickly learned the driver was still inside and called family members to rescue them.

The family arrived later, took off their socks and shoes and waded into knee-deep water to push the vehicle back onto dry ground.

The SUV had driven around the flood barriers and one of the driver’s family members told News 13, “They didn’t see the signs.”

Western North Carolina is on high alert for historic flooding from Helene

While emergency responders were able to pull the vehicle to safety, emergency management and law enforcement emphasized that drivers should obey all barriers and not drive through standing water on roads.

Power outages in the area also impacted Transylvania County’s telephone systems, and all non-emergency county offices and services were closed Thursday, September 26.

Many rivers throughout the area are causing severe impacts, including the French Broad River, which closed Hap Simpson Park after flooding. By 11:00 a.m. the water was already approaching the edges of the picnic tables and deep enough to reach the bottom of some park signs.

The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office has asked everyone to stay off area roads and limit travel to essential trips from Thursday night until at least noon Friday.