SUNSET BEACH, N.C. (WECT) – On Sunset Lakes Blvd in Sunset Beach, water overflowed from the Calabash River onto the road, causing the emergency spillway to collapse.

Fire chief Richard Childres says this is not the first time this has happened because of a storm.

Neighbors had concerns about EMS not being able to pass through, but Childres says they still have access.

“It’s definitely a concern, but we can utilize the Pearl Golf Course entrance to access the residents,” Childres said.

For now, he says it will be a hassle for neighbors who will have to take another route.

“The worst problem now is the emergency spillway. That was the backup to the main culvert area, and that has gave way and failed completely,” Childres said.

Childres says it will take anywhere from weeks to months to fix the spillway, which is designed to remove water during periods of heavy rainfall.

“There’s a lot of water that’s going to be moving through here in the next few days,” Childres said.

Cones are blocking both entrances to the part of the road that is flooded, and Childres says nobody should be trying to drive or walk through.

Childres says while there is ponding and flooding across the area, the Sunset Lakes Blvd area got the worst of the flooding.

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