Columbus County Schools Delayed Due to Weekend Flooding

WHITEVILLE, N.C. — Columbus County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Tuesday, Oct. 14, following heavy rain and flooding from a nor’easter over the weekend.

This decision aligns with Whiteville City Schools, which switched to remote learning, and Southeastern Community College, both implementing similar delays. Columbus County Schools had already scheduled Monday off in its 2025-2026 calendar, but county offices opened at 10 a.m. due to hazardous conditions.

School officials continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as necessary. Currently, no other local school districts or colleges have announced delays or closures.

Over the weekend, central and southern Columbus County experienced six to nine inches of rain. Sheriff Bill Rogers reported more than a dozen water rescues took place between Sunday afternoon and midnight.

A tree damaged a car and a house on Four Oaks Drive in Whiteville. Streets like S. Madison and MLK are among several closures as of 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The area surrounding GoGas and The Donut Shop suffered significant flood damage, while Chadbourn saw heavy flooding with N.C. 410 closing and multiple street access points shut down.

Hal Lowder, Emergency Services Director in Whiteville, warned residents to avoid flooded roads. “Stay off the roads,” he advised, noting that floodwaters can hide dangers. One driver was rescued after becoming stranded in a flooded area early Tuesday.

“Even if you can get through a flooded area, you’ll cause a wake that can lead to more harm to homes and businesses,” Lowder added.