Mandatory Evacuations Ordered Below Lake Tahoma Dam in Western North Carolina Due to Landslides
Source: The Weather Channel, Weather.com
Mandatory Evacuations Ordered Below Lake Tahoma Dam in Western North Carolina Due to Landslides
By Jonathan Erdman 2 hours ago weather.com
At a Glance
* Torrential rain lead to widespread flooding in western North Carolina Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
* Evacuations were ordered below the Lake Tahoma Dam in McDowell County.
* There were a pair of landslides near the dam that raised concerns about the dam's integrity.
* Water was seen spilling over the sides of the dam Tuesday night.
Evacuations were ordered early Wednesday morning below Lake Tahoma Dam in western North Carolina due to concerns about the dam's integrity after torrential rain from Alberto triggered widespread flooding in the southern Appalachians.
McDowell County Emergency Management ordered mandatory evacuations for all residents living below Lake Tahoma Dam (1) along Buck Creek and along the Catawba River from Buck Creek and Lake Tahoma Road to the mouth of Lake James, based on the recommendation from on-site dam engineers after a pair of landslides lead to concerns about the dam's integrity. Water was reported spilling over the sides of the dam just after midnight Wednesday morning.
The evacuation order will remain in place until the dam can be inspected after sunrise. McDowell County Emergency Services director William Kehler told NBC News that the mandatory evacuations impact "several thousand" residents. (2)
"Act now to preserve your life!" said a tweet sent by the National Weather Service early Wednesday morning.
(1) https://nwschat.weather.gov/vtec/#2018-O-NEW-KGSP-FF-W-0034/USCOMP-N0Q-201805300440
(2) https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/landslide-near-north-carolina-s-lake-tahoma-dam-sparks-evacuations-n878466
Link to tweet
Read more: https://weather.com/news/news/2018-05-30-lake-tahoma-dam-north-carolina-evacuations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tahoma
mpcamb
(2,868 posts)DonViejo
(60,536 posts)Last Updated May 30, 2018 10:44 AM EDT
Authorities in western North Carolina canceled evacuations Wednesday morning in an area south of the Lake Tahoma dam, which had been in "imminent danger" of failing after a landslide. The landslide was set off by heavy rainfall associated with Alberto, which made landfall as a subtropical storm on Memorial Day.
Local officials said Wednesday morning that an engineer had performed a safety inspection and determined that the evacuation order was no longer needed.
After midnight Tuesday, the National Weather Service had declared a flash flood emergency in the area:
Link to tweet
more
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lake-tahoma-dam-north-carolina-mminent-danger-of-failing-evacuations-ordered/
FakeNoose
(32,556 posts)This is sort of a remote area but it's near US Highway 40. I'm sure the evacuating residents would have caused a huge backup on the highway. I hope these people get the word that they can go back home now. All is well.
unc70
(6,109 posts)The mudslide was on Old Fort Mountain, a rather steep, long grade -- maybe five miles.
paleotn
(17,876 posts)I live 20 minutes up the mountain from Tahoma. We had an incredible amount of rain yesterday and last night, on top of soggy conditions for more or less the last month. 3+ times our normal May rainfall and higher along sections of the blue ridge. Folks in McDowell county and Marion NC particularly are breathing a huge sigh of relief. If Tahoma failed, the impact would be catastrophic for anyone living in that portion of the Catawba valley.
As for I-40. Last I heard, 2 of the 3 west bound lanes are still blocked. Extremely busy interstate, as it's the primary east / west route from Raleigh / Durham and the Triad to points west.
FakeNoose
(32,556 posts)Slides are no fun!