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Tropical Major Hurricane Helene

Dam upstream of Newport TN has failed: mayor ordering evac of downtown
At 330 PM EDT, dam operators reported the failure of Walters Dam
causing flash flooding downstream on the Pigeon River.

This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for towns and cities immediately
below Walters Dam on the Pigeon River. This is a PARTICULARLY
DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding from the failure of
Walters Dam.

SOURCE...Dam operator.

IMPACT...This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK
HIGHER GROUND NOW! IMMEDIATE EVACUATION for areas
downstream from the Walters Dam along the Pigeon
River.

* The nearest downstream town is Hartford Tennessee, located about
16 miles from the dam. If a complete failure of the dam occurs...
The flood wave will reach the state line near the Waterville Hydro
Station in about 20 minutes; Hartford, TN in about 30 minutes;
Interstate 40 and Greasy Cove Road bridge in about 45 minutes; The
flood wave will reach Interstate 40 and Wilton Springs road bridge
in about 1 hour; Highway 73 near Edwina in about 80 minutes; The
Highway 25 bridge east of Newport in about 2 hours; The flood wave
will reach downtown Newport and the North Street bridge in about 2
hours and 30 minutes; Newport Industrial Park in about 3 hours;
The flood wave will reach the confluence with the French Broad
River in about 4 hours and then drain into Douglas Reservoir.

Crests will occur at each location later than the initial arrival
time of the flood wave.

The flood wave is moving down the Pigeon River all the way down to
Newport Tennessee.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and
life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are
fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.

If you are in low lying areas below the Walters Dam you should move
to higher ground immediately.

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.
 
Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC has no power and isn’t expected to get it back till Sunday at the earliest and is asking students on campus to be out of their dorms by 7PM tonight and be out until further notice.
 
Drove across SC up 85 to Charlotte, had to take several detours. I’d say 90% of where I drove through had no power. Had to do a lot of u-turns thanks to blocked roads. Tons of trees down, power lines down, signs blown over, etc. Probably the more insane roadtrip I’ve had. (Tops my previous insane roadtrip through MS/TN during the high risk severe setup 3/31/23)
 
Lost power and service. Managed to get down to Greer where a very limited section of highway 29 has power. Trees down everywhere. Power lines down everywhere. Rivers and streams were up 25 ft over their banks. If that’s what an eyewall of a tropical storm feels like and the damage it can make, y’all boys got chasing them hurricanes
 
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