TVA: Nolichucky River has crested, dam remains intact

HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) – The Nolichucky Dam has remained intact, and the river feeding it has begun to recede. A new Flood Warning has been issued for downstream of Douglas Dam.

The Tennessee Valley Authority shared an update at 4:10 p.m. Saturday regarding the dam’s condition as the water levels reportedly continued to fall at Nolichucky Dam in Greene County.

“After a thorough review by our Dam Safety team, we have determined the dam is stable and secure,” the TVA stated on its social media. “We are notifying local emergency management agencies that we are transitioning to an advanced monitoring mode of the dam and exiting the emergency condition.”

Just after 11 a.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service shared that a Flood Warning has been issued for downstream of Douglas Dam. A spokesperson for the NWS shared that they received confirmation about flooding in the Deerfield mobile home park. The NWS stated that the warning is set to expire at 4 p.m., because the TVA stated the strong release from the dam is likely to continue into the afternoon.

Around 9:50 a.m., the Tennessee Valley Authority shared that the Nolichucky River had crested and the Nolichucky Dam remained intact. According to the TVA, the water is receding at a rate of approximately one foot per hour. Dam Safety teams are assessing the condition of the dam to determine what the next steps should be.

The TVA also estimated that water levels reached eight feet over the previous record elevation.

Previously, a mandatory evacuation was issued for all residents in South Hamblen County along the Nolichucky River due to the “imminent failure of the Nolichucky Dam” in Greene County according to the Morristown-Hamblen Emergency Medical Service.

The EMS said a shelter will be open at Manley Baptist at 3603 W Andrew Johnson Hwy in Morristown within the next one to two hours. The City of Morristown shared that there is active evacuation along the Nolichucky in Greene County, Cocke County, and Hamblen County. Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis added that evacuations in the Centerview/Bybee area are underway.

The Morristown Rescue Squad is urging anyone south of Interstate 81 to evacuate.

“For Hamblen County, this predominately impacts the Enka area near I-81 exit 12. Residents in this area are urged to respond to emergency personnel – Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office and local Volunteer Fire personnel – and evacuate the area as this has become a mandatory evacuation,” wrote the city.

Due to a lack of visibility of the dam under current conditions and the rate of rise, TVA is issuing a Condition Red Warning of Imminent Breach, which means conditions have developed that could lead to an imminent breach.

TVA’s River Forecast Center has activated a Condition Red Warning for an Imminent Breach at Nolichucky Dam in Greene Co., TN. The breach is expected to occur at any time due to extreme rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene which is causing record river levels around the region. Potentially life-threatening flooding can occur as far downstream as Douglas Reservoir. Local county emergency management officials are coordinating evacuations as appropriate. Please stay alert for notices from your local EMA and heed all warnings.

TVA

Evacuations were issued Friday afternoon in Cocke County due to the flooding risk . In Carter County, people in Roan Mountain were evacuated Friday morning as flooding occurred across the region. The storms also led to several school and road closures throughout the area . Thousands are also without power.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 105 to provide critical relief to victims of severe weather and flooding in Tennessee. He added that the state is requesting a Major Disaster Declaration from FEMA to provide impacted counties with additional relief and resources.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated.

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