After heavy rainfall, North Carolina dam faces risk of failure, leading to mandatory evacuations

The Lake Lure dam in western North Carolina overtopped during Hurricane Helene, prompting evacuations and concern about potential failure. Nearby Walters Dam also caused worry in Newport, Tennessee. The Lake Lure dam remains at risk of failing, threatening downstream communities and even towns in South Carolina. Emergency responders are working to ensure the safety of citizens. The dam is a high hazard dam, with recent erosion and power loss reported. Southern Appalachia has seen extreme rainfall, with Lake Lure experiencing 8 to 16 inches of rain over three days. The town of Lake Lure had been working to replace the aging dam, with grants and funding secured for the project. Meanwhile, confusion arose in Tennessee when reports of the Walters Dam failing were later declared false, but the risk remained. The U.S. has over 92,000 dams in need of restoration to withstand today’s climate and population growth. In recent years, 283 dams in the U.S. have experienced failures, underscoring the need for infrastructure improvements.

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