Heavy rain in North Carolina prompts evacuation due to risk of dam failure

The Lake Lure dam in western North Carolina overtopped due to Hurricane Helene, prompting evacuations and fears of failure. A second dam, the Walters Dam, also had warnings of potential failure, causing concerns in Newport, Tennessee. The Lake Lure dam, located near Asheville, was said to be at risk of flooding downstream communities and even towns in South Carolina. Water was overtopping the dam, but emergency personnel were working to evacuate residents. The dam was considered high hazard and in fair condition according to a 2023 inspection. The town of Lake Lure had been working on replacing the dam with the help of FEMA grants and state funding. In a separate incident, confusion arose in Newport, Tennessee, about the Walters Dam potentially failing, but it was later deemed a false alarm. The United States has over 92,000 dams that are aging and in need of restoration, with many not designed for today’s climate. A report estimated that it would take $157.5 billion to bring nonfederal U.S. dams up to standard. Over the past decade, 283 dams in the U.S. have experienced failures, but most did not cause public safety concerns.

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