Duke Energy says the Walters Dam has not failed and the evacuation notice is still in effect

COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency maintains that the Walters Dam, also known as Waterville Dam, has not failed. TEMA cites the dam's owner, Duke Energy.

It comes just about an hour after Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis said the dam had suffered a “catastrophic failure.”

“THE WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A catastrophic failure,” Mathis posted on Facebook. “Immediate evacuation of entire downtown Newport.”

It is important to note that both Mathis and TEMA remain compliant with the evacuation order.

Previous coverage: First Alert weather closes roads and schools across East Tennessee

The evacuation notice came as heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused flooding across Cocke County, particularly in areas near the Pigeon River and French Broad River.

According to the United States Geological Survey, both rivers are normally below 5 feet. As of 9 p.m., the Pigeon River was at 27.33 feet. At 9:45 p.m., the French Broad River was at 23.31 feet.

Previous coverage: Scattered showers with at times gusty winds will continue this weekend

WVLT News reached out to Duke Energy for an update:

Duke Energy currently has all gates open at Waterville Dam and continues to transfer water through the dam. Duke Energy can confirm that both the dam and our locks are operating as expected. Hurricane Helene brought historic rainfall across much of the Carolinas over the past 48 hours. We urge people who live along our lakes and rivers or in flood-prone areas to be cautious, stay informed and follow state and county emergency management guidance. They should also pay attention to emergency notifications on their cell phones.

As for the dam itself, the Army Corps of Engineers maintains an inventory of dams across the country.

The National Inventory of Dams lists Walters Dam as “high” in terms of potential hazards.

It's the latest in a series of updates from Mathis about the emergency situation in Cocke County.

“All county and city emergency resources are currently fully engaged in water rescue and evacuation efforts,” Mathis said earlier Friday. “We are still several hours away from the expected high water mark. Thank you to all of our emergency responders for their heroic efforts today and in the days ahead.”

The situation, not just in Cocke County but throughout East Tennessee, prompted a response from Gov. Bill Lee.

“As severe weather and flooding from Hurricane Helene continues to occur in Tennessee, we are monitoring conditions and urging Tennesseans to follow local guidelines for important resources, safety information and community updates,” Lee said. “Maria and I continue to pray for all Tennesseans affected.”

As of Friday afternoon, Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball said there have been over 50 rescue attempts in the county with no fatalities. In addition, Ball said a fire truck, an ambulance and seven patrol cars carrying the sheriff's office were lost in the flooding.

There is also an emergency shelter at the Newport Community Center (433 Prospect Ave.) for those living north of Wilton Springs. Liberty Church in Cosby has been designated as an evacuation center for those south of Wilton Springs.

TEMA also provides a list of emergency shelters throughout the state. That's what's available here.

Mathis has also declared a state of emergency in Cocke County.

As with other dams in East Tennessee, the Tennessee Valley Authority has issued a yellow status for Nolichucky Dam in Greene County out of an abundance of caution.

According to TVA, the yellow condition means the dam is nearing its limit to withstand excessive flooding. Officials, however, stressed that the dam structure had not failed.

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