Mass evacuations after ‘imminent failure’ of dam in path of Hurricane Florence
Raleigh: Thousands have been ordered to evacuate their homes after reports of the “imminent failure” of a dam in the path of Hurricane Florence.
Residents close to the Headwaters Dam in North Carolina have been told to leave after rains from the tropical storm were expected to bring severe flooding for the next 24-48 hours. Officials from the National Weather Service warned the dam is only three feet away from being breached. Emergency management officials in Ashe County have warned of an imminent breach in the dam, close to the borders of Tennessee and Virginia. Ashe Emergency Management tweeted: “The dam in the Headwaters Development is close to capacity and is in danger of a breach.
“Anyone living downstream of 5010 Three Top Road should evacuate.” Hurricane Florence has dumped more than 30 inches of rain across North Carolina since making landfall on Friday. Tens of thousands have already been ordered to evacuate from areas close to rivers, with the Cape Fear, Little River,
Waccamaw and Pee Dee all expected to burst their banks.
North Carolina has been the worst hit region by the tropical storm, with 11 of the 17 deaths happening in the state.
Flash flood warnings will stay in place until at least 8am Eastern time (1pm BST).
The Defence Department said 13,500 military personnel have been assigned to help relief efforts. Hurricane Florence has wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States. There have been reports of looting in the town of Wilmington, North Carolina, as thugs tried to rob a petrol station. While several dogs had to be rescued after being left to drown in cages by their owners who fled the rising flood waters. Almost two million residents of North Carolina have had to leave their homes to escape the flooding. Thousands of home were still flooded or without power.