ALERT! North Carolina DAM Failure Imminent due to Mudslide Damage!

A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for all residents living below Lake Tahoma.

This includes:

Lake Tahoma Road from Lake Tahoma south to U.S. 70 West
Tom Johnson Camping Center
Old Greenlee Road from Crane Resistoflex Road to Water Filter Plant
U.S. 70 West from PG Fire Department to North Main Street
All residences along the Catawba River from Tom Johnson to Lake James. This includes developments that border the Catawba River in the Hankins community.
All locations along U.S. 221 Business
Burnettes Landing
Lake James Landing
Tom Creek Road from N.C. 80 to Morgan Lake Road

from NWS "MCDOWELL COUNTY UPDATE: A landslide has
comprised the integrity of Lake Tahoma Dam. MANDATORY EVACUATIONS underway from the Dam at Lake Shore Dr to Lake Tahoma Rd (NC 80) to the confluence of the Catawba River near Resistoflex Rd and Riverside Park. ACT NOW TO PRESERVE YOUR LIFE!"

"Floodwaters have reached levels not seen since the September 2004 floods associated with Hurricanes Frances and Ivan," the NWS said. "This is the most significant flooding McDowell County has seen since 2004."

Areas downstream of Lake Tahoma Dam, including residences and businesses along U.S. 70 from Lake Tahoma Road to U.S. 221 Business near Garden Creek are being evacuated.

Several churches and the YMCA in Marion, North Carolina, have been opened as shelters for evacuees.


https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/imminent-dam-failure-triggers-evacuations-in-western-north-carolina/70005083

Imminent dam failure triggers evacuations in western North Carolina

Heavy rainfall led to a landslide that compromised the Lake Tahoma Dam in western North Carolina early Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for central McDowell County, including the town of Marion.

“This is an extremely dangerous situation,” the warning said. “To save your life, please heed all county evacuation notices and take action to leave the vicinity immediately!”

The flooding is being blamed for a structure collapse in Marion shortly after 2:00 a.m. EDT Wednesday.

A portion of Interstate 40 was shut down in McDowell County due to a mudslide. Several cars were trapped as the mud and debris overtook the roadway. No injuries were reported.

Flash flooding was not restricted to McDowell County as water rescues and road closures were reported throughout western North Carolina on Tuesday night.

The area was hit hard by as much as 4-6 inches of rainfall late Tuesday.

The rain struggled to soak into the ground that has been soaked with above-normal precipitation this month. Asheville, North Carolina, which usually picks up 3.66 inches of rain during May, has received 13.26 inches as of Tuesday, May 29.

If the city eclipses 13.75 inches of rain for the month, May 2018 would mark the wettest month on record. The old record has stood since August 1940.

The area will be at risk for additional flash flooding through the end of the week as rounds of drenching showers and thunderstorms roll through. Drier conditions may return this weekend.

[MCDOWELL COUNTY MUDSLIDE]: Two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane of I-40 near Exit 66 in Old Fort are shut down. DOT doesn’t expect them to reopen until 1pm on *Friday. @wcnc #UpWithWCNC