A structural engineer evaluated the Lake Lure dam on Friday evening and concluded that its failure is not imminent, according to a town official.
The dam, located in western North Carolina, overtopped earlier on Friday due to heavy rainfall from Hurricane Helene, leading to evacuations and urgent warnings from officials about a potential failure.
Lake Lure town manager Olivia Stewman reported that the engineer assessed the dam to be in stable condition, despite earlier reports of damage. Although the dam experienced a power loss on Friday morning, services were restored shortly thereafter.
Stewman mentioned that residents who evacuated might not be able to return yet due to hazardous travel conditions, including downed trees and a lack of cell service in the area.
The latest update on Friday evening provided a sense of relief, as a similar alarm about the Walters Dam, located less than 100 miles from Lake Lure, was also deemed unfounded. Although the Walters Dam was not breached, residents downstream in Newport, Tennessee, were advised to evacuate due to potential flooding.
Concerns began early Friday when emergency alerts urged those living below the Lake Lure dam to evacuate to higher ground immediately due to imminent failure risks. By 1:30 p.m., it was reported that water was overtopping the dam, though officials noted that while structural supports were compromised, the dam wall was holding.
The hydroelectric dam, standing 124 feet tall on the Broad River, can store a maximum volume equivalent to around 22,500 Olympic swimming pools. Stewman observed that water was flowing around one side of the dam that afternoon, and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality confirmed erosion on one side of the 480-foot long structure. Despite this, operators managed to operate floodgates manually after losing power.
Southern Appalachia has faced extreme rainfall in recent days, with some areas experiencing precipitation levels typically expected only once every 1,000 years. According to meteorologist Jared Klein, the region around Lake Lure received between 8 and 16 inches of rain in just three days.
The Lake Lure dam is classified as a “high” hazard dam, indicating that any failure could lead to loss of life. A March 2023 inspection rated it in “fair” condition. The town has been actively working to replace the aging infrastructure and has secured multiple grants from FEMA, as well as $16.5 million from the state for the rehabilitation project.
Earlier this year, efforts included lowering the water level of the lake to facilitate infrastructure updates, and contractors have been installing emergency preparedness features aimed at managing storm scenarios.
In Newport, Tennessee, confusion arose over the Walters Dam after officials initially declared a “catastrophic failure.” However, Kristin Coulter from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency later clarified that it was a false alarm, although the risk remained for the town. Despite Duke Energy’s assurance that the dam and its floodgates were functioning properly, the local mayor declared a state of emergency due to rising water levels.
The situation highlights the aging state of many of America’s dams, which number over 92,000. Many are in urgent need of repair, and a report last year estimated that bringing nonfederal U.S. dams up to standards would require $157.5 billion. Data shows that from 2013 to 2023, 283 dams in the U.S. experienced failures, most of which did not pose direct public safety threats, though some incidents, such as a fatal failure in Nebraska in 2019, have raised concerns.