National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists are urging North Carolina residents in Rutherford County downstream of the Lake Lure Dam to evacuate immediately as the dam is at risk of imminent failure.
The Broad River reportedly leaped by 10 feet in only a few hours after Hurricane Helene, which has since weakened to a tropical storm, brought torrential rainfall across North Carolina on Friday. The river flooding has stressed the dam to the point of failure, prompting a flash flood emergency for more than 3,000 people downstream of the river. Evacuations are now in place.
"URGENT: FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR THE LAKE LURE DAM! DAM FAILURE IMMINENT! RSIDENTS BELOW THE DAM NEED TO EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY!" the NWS office in Greenville-Spartanburg posted on X, formerly Twitter.
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Which Residents Were Asked to Evacuate?
The emergency flash-flood warning issued by the NWS says that at least 3,000 people are at risk of emergency flooding downstream of the Broad River and Lake Lure Dam.
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Residents living on the following roads are asked to evacuate, according to Rutherford County Emergency Management:
396 Memorial Highway Lake Lure to River Landing/Calhoun Trail, Justice Drive, Silver Tree Lane, 100-341 Island Creek Road, Finch Street, Swans Way West, Raven Boulevard, Chickadee Lane, Nightowls Terrace, Thrasher Lane, Chickadee Avenue, Swans Way East, Phesant Way, Wildcat Boulevard, River Edge, Rainbow Circle, Bluegill Drive, Sparrows Way, Adams Lane, Mallard Road, Teal Lane, Swans Avenue, Bills Creek Road to Edgerton Road, Pelican Lane, Roadrunner Circle, Coromant Drive, Bob White Avenue, Red Bird Drive, Rock Branch Road, Kennebec Way, Rock Ledge Drive, Bills Mountain Trail, Mcowenby Pass, Quarters Lane, Cammies Lane, Rock Springs Church road, Calhoun Trail, River Landing, Lattimore Road, Cove Hollow Drive, Cove Creek Drive, Cove Crest Drive, Jericho Drive, Hoover Road, Freeman Town Road at the bridge, Crawford Hollow.
Newsweek reached out to Rutherford County Emergency Management by phone for comment.
As of the most recent update from Rutherford County Emergency Management at 6 p.m. local time, the dam was still holding.
"Lake Lure water levels are no longer rising and are beginning to recede," the update said. "Emergency personnel have rescued over 25 individuals through swift water rescue, EMS, fire departments, and law enforcement efforts."
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Why Is Lake Lure Dam At Risk For Failure?
Helene made landfall in Florida on late Thursday night, about 10 miles west of the city of Perry, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm was a Category 4 hurricane at the time, with maximum sustained winds of around 140 mph. The storm brought a life-threatening storm surge, devastating winds and torrent rain to the area, which contributed to excessive flooding in several Florida cities. Seventeen people have died from the storm, the Associated Press reported.
The storm quickly moved through the Sunshine State and is now considered a post-tropical cyclone with winds of 35 mph centered over Kentucky. Millions of people are without power, including people as far north as Indiana.
The flooding put the dam at risk of imminent failure.
"Rutherford County Emergency Management is reporting that catastrophic flows along the Broad River into Lake Lure is overtopping Lake Lure Dam, and the dam is in IMMINENT FAILURE," the NWS flash flood warning said. "Evacuations are underway downstream of Lake Lure Dam. Residents are urged to seek higher ground NOW and obey all evacuation orders from Rutherford County Emergency Management to protect your life and the lives of your family."
North Carolina Evacuations
Several evacuations are in place across North Carolina, including in North Wilkesboro, Asheville, Transylvania County, Haywood County, Avery County and McDowell, WXII 12 reported.
The NWS published the map below, which comprises a list of all current flash flood emergencies, including Lake Lure Dam.
Read more
- Helene update: North Carolina faces "most significant" natural disaster
"Here is a map of the current Flash Flood Emergencies across the western Carolinas. In the areas highlighted expect life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses," the NWS said. "Extensive flooding of homes and businesses. Widespread road closures. Widespread life-threatening landslide activity across the mountains. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW IF YOU ARE UNDER A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY!"
Some North Carolina cities were forecast to receive 10 times their monthly rainfall amount. The torrential rain caused the Broad River to leap by 10 feet in less than two hours.
According to a recent post by the NWS Greenville-Spartanburg office, parts of the forecast region, which includes both North Carolina and South Carolina, received 20 inches or more of rain from the storm.
Torrential rains have also caused devastating damage to dam infrastructure outside of North Carolina. On Friday afternoon, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) warned Cocke County residents of "catastrophic" dam failure that prompted sudden evacuations.
"EMERGENCY ALERT: The Waterville Dam has suffered a catastrophic failure. Evacuation of all of Downtown Newport immediately," TEMA posted on X.
Update 9/27/24, 1:26 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 9/27/24, 3:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 9/27/24, 6:42 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
