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    • Concerns about Nolichucky Dam failure extend flash flood warning
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    Concerns about Nolichucky Dam failure extend flash flood warning

    Vaseline Posted on

    The National Weather Service in Morristown extended its flash flood warning until noon after Nolichucky Dam operators reported that “the failure of the Nolichucky Dam caused flash flooding downstream.”

    The flash flood warning is in effect for north-central Cocke County, southwestern Greene County and southeastern Hamblen County in East Tennessee.

    The Tennessee Valley Authority warned of a dam breach last night as a precaution, saying the lack of visibility and rising waters made it difficult to assess the situation.

    “The rupture is expected to occur at any time due to extreme rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which is causing record levels in the region’s rivers,” spokesman Scott Brooks said in a news release.

    Just before 10 a.m. on September 28, TVA posted on social media that the Nolichucky River has crested and the dam has held together.

    “Our Dam Safety Teams are assessing the condition of the dam to determine next steps,” TVA said. “We estimate that water levels are 2.5 meters above record highs.”

    At 11:30 a.m. on September 27, TVA reported that water levels were receding at a rate of about a foot per hour. Crews on site are waiting for the water to recede enough to safely assess the dam’s safety, TVA said in a news release.

    TVA warned that “potentially life-threatening flooding could occur well downstream of Douglas Reservoir.” The reservoir is located about 40 miles west of the Nolichucky Dam and about six miles south of the intersection of Interstates 40 and 81.

    People are urged to follow every evacuation order and never drive into floodwaters.

    Manley Baptist Church in Morristown is serving as a shelter, with a maximum capacity of 75 beds in the gym. Brent Sadler, manager of the American Red Cross, told Knox News that as of September 28 at 9 a.m., 13 people traveled to the church for shelter — a mix of people from Cocke, Greene and Hamblen counties.

    The Nolichucky Dam, eight miles southwest of Greeneville, was built in 1913 and is no longer a hydroelectric dam. It creates Davy Crockett Reservoir, a prime location for smallmouth bass fishing.

    ➤ To get weather warnings via SMS: Sign up to receive updates now on Hurricane Helene and other weather events

    The Nolichucky River begins in North Carolina and flows into the French Broad River in East Tennessee. It is a world-class whitewater rafting destination.

    The extreme rainfall from Hurricane Helene is finally making its way through the rivers and dams, causing them to continue rising even as the rain has stopped.

    The Nolichucky River at Nolichucky Dam rose from 13.32 feet at 4 p.m. on Sept. 25 to 18.57 feet at 10:15 p.m. on Sept. 27, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling. The measurements are qualified, which means they are combined with local expertise and experience to arrive at real figures.

    Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order providing “critical assistance to victims of severe weather and flooding.”

    He asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to also provide resources.

    Vaseline
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