GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – A important flood emergency was narrowly averted alongside the Nolichucky River in East Tennessee because the remnants of Hurricane Helene unleashed torrential rainfall, pushing the river a number of ft above document flood stage.
The surging waters triggered fears of an imminent failure of the Nolichucky Dam in Greeneville, The Tennessee Valley Authority mentioned.
The Nationwide Climate Service (NWS) issued a dire Flash Flood Emergency warning of life-threatening flash flooding.
Waves of raging river water had been seen crashing over the main dam on Friday as authorities feared its “imminent breach.”
In response, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) activated a Situation Crimson Warning resulting from Helene’s excessive rainfall inflicting document river ranges across the area.
However the Nolichucky River crested late Saturday morning, and the dam remained intact, the TVA wrote in an replace on social media.
“Water is at present receding by roughly one foot per hour,” the TVA mentioned. “Our Dam Security groups are within the strategy of assessing the situation of the dam to find out subsequent steps.”
The TVA estimated water ranges reached 8 ft over the document elevation and even with the dam nonetheless standing, there may be in depth flooding alongside the river.
Rainfall totals reached 15-25 inches or extra within the close by Appalachian Mountains.
The NWS warned that if the dam fails, the preliminary flood wave —a wall of water— would attain West Allens Bridge Street in simply 20 minutes.
The city of Erwin was additionally alongside the trail of hazard from the Nolichucky River.
The city is already experiencing flooding from the document rains and was the location of a daring rescue of dozens of hospital workers and sufferers who spent hours on the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital after floodwaters surged into city.
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