Helene triggers deadly floods as death toll rises; Tennessee dam break imminent: Live updates
Thousands told to evacuate their homes in North Carolina after storm Helene shifts north
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Residents downstream of two dams on the North Carolina-Tennessee border were told to urgently evacuate after reports that the structures were at risk of failure due to flooding and deluges from Hurricane Helene.
The Waterville Dam in Tennessee, which sits across the state line from Newport, North Carolina, was declared a state of emergency. Residents in Newport, a town of 7,000 people, were ordered to get out on Friday afternoon.
Earlier on Friday in another part of North Carolina, Rutherford County emergency management officials warned residents below the Lake Lure dam to evacuate due to “imminent failure” - but later said the structure was holding.
At least 42 people have died after Helene crashed into Florida as a 140mph, Category 4 hurricane late Thursday, pounding the west coast with “unsurvivable” conditions including 15ft storm surge. Helene has since been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone but is still packing “life-threatening” conditions as it plows north.
There were seven deaths reported in Florida, and a total of 15 people died in Georgia, including an emergency responder. Another 19 deaths were reported in South Carolina including two people who died when trees fell on houses Friday morning. North Carolina reported two deaths.
By late Friday, Helene was moving north towards Louisville, Kentucky and threatening more dangerous downpours over the Appalachia region.
North Carolina’s Lake Lure dam is ‘compromised’ but holding
North Carolina’s Rutherford County said while water is cresting and flowing around the side walls of its Lake Lure dam, and the dam’s structural supports have been comprimised, the dam wall is “currently holding.”
“Evacuations have occurred from the Dam to Island Creek Road. Evacuation sirens are sounding downstream of the Dam. Emergency personnel are working with the structural engineers and are going house to house to ensure all citizens have been evacuated. Evacuees are being transported temporarily to Ingles in Lake Lure,” it said.
People in the area can text AlertRC to 888777 to get emergency updates.
Tropical Depression Helene still producing historic, catastrophic flooding in Appalachians, Southeast
Tropical Depression Helene was moving about 125 miles south-southeast of Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday afternoon.
The storm was still moving north-northwest, with a slowdown in speed expected.
The depression is forecast to stall over the Tennessee Valley tonight and through the weekend.
Continued slow weakening is expected, and Helene is forecast to become extratropical later this afternoon.
Carolinas, Tennessee have seen at least a half of foot of rain since Tuesday
Preliminary data shows rainfall in parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee reached at least a half a foot between Tuesday and Friday.
Some parts of the region saw more than a foot of rain.
A map from the National Weather Service shows massive amounts of rain there since Tuesday.
Social media video, images show life-threatening debris flow and flooding in Boone
North Carolina residents told to evacuate due to ‘imminent’ dam failure from Hurricane Helene floodwaters
A dam in North Carolina is in imminent danger of failing due to Hurricane Helene, according to local officials.
The National Weather Service (NWS) told nearby residents on Friday morning to immediately evacuate to a safe place due to flash floods overtopping the Lake Lure Dam in Rutherford County.
The Independent’s Io Dodds has the latest:
At least six people have died in South Carolina
Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables told The Associated Press that four people had died overnight.
He planned to release more details later.
Two others in Anderson were killed by falling trees.
Images out of Boone show impassable roads
New images out of Boone, North Carolina, show impassable roads due to Helene’s flooding.
Helene forces cancellation of Appalachian State football game
Appalachian State canceled its home football game against Liberty due to damage caused by Helene.
The game was scheduled for Saturday and will not be rescheduled.
The news comes as North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper warned people to stay off the roads in the western part of his state. Swift-water rescues are underway in the area.
Connecticut Army National Guard deploys to North Carolina
The Connecticut Army National Guard is deploying to North Carolina on Friday.
Its 1-169th Aviation Regiment is providing one CH-47 Chinook helicopter and a five-soldier flight crew for approximately one week.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Flash flood emergency declared for North Carolina’s Lake Lure Dam
The Lake Lure Dam in Rutherford County, North Carolina, is failing.
“URGENT: FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR THE LAKE LURE DAM! DAM FAILURE IMMINENT! RESIDENTS BELOW THE DAM NEED TO EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY!” the National Weather Service warned.
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