The southeast U.S. faces evacuation crises following Hurricane Helene's destructive path.
Hundreds flee as dam failures threaten communities in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastating path through the southeastern United States.
According to The Independent, residents downstream of two North Carolina dams were ordered to evacuate on Friday due to fears of potential "catastrophic failure" caused by flooding from Hurricane Helene. The storm, which had earlier slammed into Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, continued to wreak havoc as it moved inland, dumping massive amounts of rain across several states.
In Rutherford County, North Carolina, officials issued urgent evacuation orders for residents living downstream of the Lake Lure Dam. The 124-foot-high structure was reported to be overflowing, with water pouring uncontrolled around its edges. The county's emergency management department described the situation as critical, stating that structural supports had been compromised.
Across state lines in Cocke County, Tennessee, initial reports of a dam failure at the Waterville Dam sparked immediate panic. County Mayor Rob Mathis took to Facebook with an alarming message:
EMERGENCY UPDATE: THE WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. EVACUATION ALL OF DOWNTOWN NEWPORT IMMEDIATELY.
However, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) later clarified that the dam had not failed, citing information from Duke Energy, the dam's operator. Despite this correction, evacuation orders remained in effect for the area, highlighting the confusion and urgency surrounding the unfolding crisis.
The situation at Lake Lure Dam remained precarious throughout Friday afternoon. Josh Kastrinsky, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, confirmed that while the dam's structure appeared intact, it was overtopping across its entire length, with water flowing uncontrolled around both abutments.
Hurricane Helene's destructive force extended far beyond the immediate threat to dams. By Monday evening, at least 130 people were reported dead across multiple states, underscoring the storm's widespread and deadly impact. The hurricane first made landfall in Florida late Thursday, packing winds of up to 140 mph and creating what officials described as "unsurvivable" conditions along the west coast.
As Helene moved inland, it weakened but continued to dump enormous amounts of rainfall across Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The relentless precipitation led to widespread flooding and chaos across a large swath of the southeastern United States.
In Cocke County, Tennessee, Sheriff C.J. Ball confirmed on Monday that two people had died in storm-related incidents, adding to the growing death toll from Hurricane Helene.
The impact of the storm and subsequent flooding left many communities reeling. Helen Pace, a local photographer living near Lake Lure, shared images of her badly damaged house and a road torn apart by floodwaters. She described the dire situation:
We are physically OK. The water has started to recede and I think we dodged the predicted winds... We are not able to get out now, we have no power, no water, and cell service seems to be restricted. Sending my love to you all.
By Monday afternoon, some areas began to see signs of recovery. In Newport, Tennessee, all roads in the downtown area had reopened, according to Mayor Mathis. He also reported that he had been in contact with the White House and received assurances from President Joe Biden that federal resources would be made available to assist in the city's recovery efforts.
The devastating impact of Hurricane Helene has left hundreds evacuated, communities damaged, and multiple states reeling from loss of life and infrastructure damage. As floodwaters recede, affected areas face the daunting task of rebuilding and recovering from one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in recent years.
