North Carolina dam failure ‘imminent’ as Tropical Storm Helene wreaks havoc

Lake Lure Dam faces ‘imminent’ failure as Tropical Storm Helene brings catastrophic flooding across North Carolina.

Lake Lure Dam in Rutherford County, North Carolina, is under an "imminent" threat of failure as Tropical Storm Helene weakens but continues to cause significant damage across the Southeast U.S. 

On Friday morning, emergency officials ordered residents on certain roads to evacuate to higher ground due to water overtopping the dam, according to the county’s Emergency Management office.

In a Facebook post shared at 11 a.m. ET, officials warned that the situation was critical, with "catastrophic flows along the Broad River into Lake Lure" causing dangerous flooding downstream, as reported by the National Weather Service (NWS).

A list of affected roads has been posted on the Rutherford County Emergency Management Facebook page. The dam is located roughly 30 miles southeast of Asheville, and flood warnings have been issued for several counties in the area, including Avery, Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes, and Boone.

https://www.facebook.com/rcemergencymanagement/posts/956135223225905

Helene’s outer bands have already claimed lives in the state. A 4-year-old was killed in a car accident in Catawba County on Thursday, and in Charlotte, a person died after a tree fell on a home early Friday morning.

“This was a storm-related death,” said Capt. John Lipcsak of the Charlotte Fire Department, speaking to USA TODAY. The NWS had previously warned of potential "catastrophic, life-threatening flooding."

🚨URGENT: Dam Failure Likely Imminent at Lake Lure, North Carolina - Evacuations Underway

In an alarming development, the National Weather Service has issued a dire warning for Rutherford County, North Carolina, where the Lake Lure Dam is on the brink of failure. This situation… pic.twitter.com/BkjzH3uSzB

— Thomas Paine Band (@ThomasPaineBand) September 27, 2024