A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for areas below the Nolichucky Dam as the Tennessee Valley Authority TVA and National Weather Service NWS Morristown report a failure at the dam is clear.
Tennessee Flooding
The TVA revealed at 12:13 am Saturday that its River Forecast Center had activated a Condition Red Warning at the Nolichucky Dam in Greene County.
Anyone who lives in low lying region near the Nolichucky River is advised to seek higher ground and take caution on the roads.
Tennessee Dam Break
The TVA had issued a Condition Yellow for the dam in past.
Flash flood warnings are in place until 3:45 am.
The NWS reports the dam operators reported a failure at the dam at 11:35 pm on Friday.
The NWS added that if total failure of the dam happens flood wave will hit West Allens Bridge Road bridge in 20 minutes at the Highway 321 bridge in 30 minutes.
Nolichucky Dam Failure
NWS said that the failure at dam was imminent and would affect north central Cocke County, southeastern Hamblen County.
The breach could occur at any time due to rainfall from the remnants of hurricane Helene which is causing record river level around the region.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is claiming that Walters Dam famous as Waterville Dam has not failed.
TEMA is citing the dam owner Duke Energy.
The evacuation notice came as heavy rain brought on by remnants of Hurricane Helene caused flooding over Cocke County in region near the Pigeon River and French Broad River.
States Geological Survey both rivers sit below five feet as of 9 pm the Pigeon River was sitting at 27.33 feet.
As of 9:45 pm the French Broad River was sitting at 23.31 feet.
As for the dam the Army Corps of Engineers keeps and inventory of dams across the country.
There is shelter open at the Newport Community Center 433 Prospect Ave. for those living north of Wilton springs.
The Liberty Church in Cosby was designated as the evacuation center for those south of Wilton Springs.
Mathis has declared a state of emergency in Cocke County.
Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball said there have been more than 50 rescue attempts in the county with no reported death.
Ball add a fire truck seven cruisers a rescue squad truck with sheriff office have been lost in flooding.
- Helene a post tropical cyclone was expected to hit the Tennessee Valley through the weekend.
- Rain of 1-2 inches across area of the Ohio Valley.
- Officials warned of imminent breach of dam in Greene County Tenn on the border with North Carolina. and told citizen downstream to move to higher side.
- 3.3 million consumers woke up without power in South Carolina, Florida, Ohio and Georgia, North Carolina.
- Almost 2 million consumers in the Carolinas, and 770,000 in Georgia as post tropical cyclone open up life threatening flooding.
US Coast Guard carried out a rescue on Friday after a sailboat crashed into an old railroad pier as Hurricane Helene caused damage in Boca Grande, Florida.