“CATASTROPHIC FAILURE” | Waterville Dam fails, Cocke County mayor orders evacuation

COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis has ordered everyone in downtown Newport to evacuate immediately, adding that the Walters Dam, also known as the Waterville Dam, has failed.
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“THE WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A catastrophic failure,” Mathis posted on Facebook. “Immediate evacuation of entire downtown Newport.”
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Previous coverage: First Alert weather closes roads and schools across East Tennessee
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The evacuation notice comes as heavy rains caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused flooding throughout Cocke County, particularly in areas near the Pigeon River and French Broad River.
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According to the United States Geological Survey, both rivers are normally below 5 feet. At midday, the Pigeon River was at 20.57 feet. At 12:45 p.m., the French Broad River was at just under 17 feet.
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Previous coverage: Scattered showers with at times gusty winds will continue this weekend
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The dam is owned by Duke Energy. WVLT News asked for the latest information, but the company’s website also offers some insight into the dam’s status.
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Read entire document HERE: https://huecanada.ca/catastrophic-failure-waterville-dam-fails-cocke-county-mayor-orders-evacuation/

Source video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_emV7hC3Io