Duke Energy says Walters Dam has not failed, evacuation notice still in effect

COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is claiming that Walters Dam, otherwise known as Waterville Dam, has not failed. TEMA is citing the dam’s owner, Duke Energy.

It comes just about an hour after Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis said the dam had suffered a “catastrophic failure.”

“THE WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE,” Mathis posted to Facebook. “EVACUATION ALL OF DOWNTOWN NEWPORT IMMEDIATELY.”

It’s important to note that both Mathis and TEMA are standing by the evacuation order.

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The evacuation notice came as heavy rain brought on by the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused flooding all over Cocke County, especially in areas near the Pigeon River and French Broad River.

According to the United States Geological Survey, both rivers normally sit below five feet. As of noon, the Pigeon River was sitting at 20.57 feet. As of 12:45 p.m., the French Broad River was sitting just under 17 feet.

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WVLT News reached out to Duke Energy for an update:

Duke Energy currently has all gates open at the Waterville Dam and continues to pass water through the dam. Duke Energy can confirm that both the dam and our floodgates are performing as expected. Hurricane Helene produced historic rainfall over the past 48 hours across much of the Carolinas. We urge people living along our lakes and rivers or in flood-prone areas to use caution, stay informed and follow the directions of state and county emergency management. They should also watch for emergency notification messages on their mobile phones. 

As for the dam itself, the Army Corps of Engineers keeps an inventory of dams across the country.

The National Inventory of Dams lists Walters Dam as “high” for potential hazards.

It’s the latest in a series of updates from Mathis about emergency conditions in Cocke County.

“All county and city emergency resources are currently fully engaged in water rescue and evacuation operations,” Mathis said earlier in the day Friday. “We are still several hours from the expected high-water mark. Thank you to all of our emergency responders for their heroic efforts today and in the days to come.”

The situation, not just in Cocke County but across all of Eastern Tennessee, prompted a response from Gov. Bill Lee.

“As Tennessee continues to experience severe weather and flooding from Hurricane Helene, we are monitoring conditions and urge Tennesseans to follow local guidance for key resources, safety information and community updates,” Lee said. “Maria and I continue to pray for all impacted Tennesseans.”

Friday afternoon, Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball said there have been over 50 rescue attempts in the county with no reported fatalities. Additionally, Ball said a fire truck, a rescue squad truck and seven cruisers with the sheriff’s office have been lost in the flooding.

There is also a shelter open at the Newport Community Center (433 Prospect Ave.) for those living north of Wilton Springs. The Liberty Church in Cosby was designated as the evacuation center for those south of Wilton Springs.

TEMA also provides a list of emergency shelters throughout the state. That’s available here.

Mathis has also declared a state of emergency in Cocke County.

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