Mandatory Evacuations Ordered Below Lake Tahoma Dam in Western North Carolina Due to Landslides

[mahatmakanejeeves]

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

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tahoma

[mpcamb]

1. Is this going to cut into Pruitt's vacation money?

[DonViejo]

2. N.C. dam evacuations canceled after landslide put area in danger

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]

3. So the update is that the Lake Tahoma dam is safe and evacuation order has been lifted

https://weather.com/news/news/2018-05-30-lake-tahoma-dam-north-carolina-evacuations

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]

4. I-40 near there closed overnight by mudslide

The mudslide was on Old Fort Mountain, a rather steep, long grade -- maybe five miles.

[paleotn]

5. Yep. Thank goodness.

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]

7. Wow! good luck to you and stay safe

Slides are no fun!

[paleotn]

6. My little part of the world makes national news, but wish under better circumstances.