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The National Weather Service issued a warning on September 27, for North Carolina residents near the Lake Lure Dam, which is located about 30 miles away from Asheville. The alert came amid the ongoing destruction and havoc that Hurricane Helene brought to the south. It officially made landfall in Florida on September 26. Now that the storm has passed, North Carolina residents are struggling to pick up the pieces. Homes in western N.C. have been flooded and dismantled due to the harsh hurricane.
Did the Lake Lure Dam Break?
The dam did not completely break down. However, it reportedly needed repairs following Hurricane Helene. Before the storm hit, the NWS announced that dam failure was “imminent” and ordered residents nearby to leave the area immediately.
“Urgent: Flash floor emergency for the Lake Lure Dam! Dam failure imminent!” the NWS wrote via X. “Residents below the dam need to evacuate to higher ground immediately.”
URGENT: FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR THE LAKE LURE DAM! DAM FAILURE IMMINENT! RSIDENTS BELOW THE DAM NEED TO EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY! #ncwx https://t.co/InksFUUYF6
— NWS GSP (@NWSGSP) September 27, 2024
What Caused the Lake Lure Dam Breach?
Although the dam didn’t break, residents are facing catastrophic damage throughout the area.
After Helene passed, the NWS warned in a separate tweet that floods and other destruction from Hurricane Helene’s path could still affect them.
“Even though #Helene has departed, hazards from flooding, downed trees/powerlines, and power outages will unfortunately continue for the next several days,” the NWS wrote. “Now is NOT the time to put your guard down. Nearly half of hurricane fatalities occur after the storm.”
Where Was There a Flash Flood in North Carolina?
The following areas in North Carolina were issued flash flood warnings: Person, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Chatham, Wake, Johnston, Moore, Lee, Harnett, Hoke, Cumberland and Sampson Counties, according to Fox 8.
Did Asheville Face River Flooding?
Per the National Water Prediction, the current flooding has hit a “record flood stage.”
“This is the highest stage observed for the French Broad River at Asheville since measurements began in October 1895,” an alert from the NWP read. “Devastating flooding of adjacent areas of the French Broad River Valley is likely.”
Earlier, flood advisories were issued for the following regions that the French Broad River flooding would affect: Madison County, Transylvania County, Henderson County and Buncombe County.
