Hurricane Helene live tracker: At least 41 dead as city forced to evacuate after dam burst

A second dam suffered a “catastrophic failure” on Friday after heavy rains and deadly flash floods caused by tropical depression Helene.

A state of emergency has been declared at Waterville Dam in Tennessee, which is near the 7,000-person city of Newport.

“THE WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A CASTASIC FAILURE. Immediate evacuation of all downtown Newport,” Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis wrote in all caps on Facebook.

Earlier Friday, emergency management officials in North Carolina urgently warned residents beneath Lake Lure Dam to evacuate because of “imminent failure” – but later said the structure was stable.

Newport is near Gatlinburg and has a population of about 7,000.

The news comes after North Carolina emergency management officials strongly warned residents below Lake Lure Dam to evacuate due to “imminent failure” – but later said the dam was holding.

The dam's structural supports were damaged and evacuations were underway.

Earlier in the day, the county had posted in all caps on Facebook to warn residents: “RESIDENTS UNDER LAKE LURE DAM MUST BE EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!! Dam failure is imminent!!” Evacuate to higher ground immediately!!”

But afterward, Department of Environmental Quality spokeswoman Kat Russell said The Associated Press that there were no signs that Lake Lure Dam in Rutherford County was on the verge of collapse due to the effects of Tropical Depression Helene.

At least 41 people have died after Helene slammed into Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, lashing the West Coast in “unsurvivable” conditions.

Helene has now been downgraded to a tropical depression but is still experiencing “life-threatening” conditions as it plows through the county, with a flash flood emergency declared for the Atlanta metropolitan area and high alert for heavy rains as far away as the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky Landslides exist.

Parts of Georgia and the Carolinas were still experiencing hurricane-force winds Friday, and much of the southeastern U.S. was experiencing very heavy rainfall, causing historic and life-threatening flooding.

As the sun rose in Florida, the damage was widespread and catastrophic. The storm surge left some homes submerged up to their roof lines and boats were thrown together like bath toys in marinas. Fallen trees, power lines and other debris made navigating the roads challenging for emergency responders

From Florida on the East Coast to Virginia, around 4 million people were without power.

The hurricane hit the Big Bend region of the state just after 11 p.m. local time on Thursday with winds of 140 miles per hour and a storm surge of 15 feet.

Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed two deaths in Florida. A driver was killed when a sign fell on his car in Tampa. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reported five additional deaths.

A total of 15 people died in Georgia, including two in Wheeler County; They died after their trailer crashed on a highway. One person was an emergency responder.

At least 17 deaths have been reported in South Carolina. Two people in Anderson County died Friday morning when a tree fell on homes. At least four others died overnight in Aiken County. Two people died in North Carolina, including one person killed by a falling tree in Charlotte.

The storm is expected to weaken and Helene will become extratropical later Friday afternoon.

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The Tennessee Dam suffers a “catastrophic failure” forcing an evacuation

A dam in Tennessee experienced a catastrophic failure, requiring the evacuation of the city of Newport.

Newport is a town of about 7,000 people about 60 miles southwest of where dozens of people were rescued from the roof of a hospital.

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 9:08 p.m

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North Carolina officials say Lake Lure Dam is “currently inactive” following urgent evacuations

Residents downstream of a dam in North Carolina have been ordered to evacuate after the barrier was “compromised” by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.

In a series of Facebook posts Friday, the Rutherfood County Emergency Management Agency urged residents to immediately flee to higher ground due to flash flooding that inundated Lake Lure Dam.

“Water climbs the dam and flows around the side walls. The structural supports are damaged, but the dam is currently holding,” the ministry said at 1:44 p.m. local time.

The Independent's Io Dodd has the latest:

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 8:31 p.m

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A video from Sarasota County, Florida shows the widespread effects of flooding

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 8:25 p.m

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Tornado hits businesses in North Carolina

A tornado was confirmed Friday north of Rocky Mount, said Robin Cox, city communications specialist The Associated Press.

There was damage to businesses in the area, but the city has not yet confirmed whether there were any injuries.

With reporting by The Associated Press

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 8:13 p.m

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Dozens rescued. from a flooded hospital in Tennessee

Dozens of people were rescued by helicopter from a Tennessee hospital flooded by Helene.

About 54 people were taken to the roof of Unicoi County Hospital as water quickly overwhelmed the facility.

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 8:10 p.m

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North Carolina's main road is washed out from Helene

Portions of I-40 in North Carolina are being washed out by the effects of Tropical Depression Helene.

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 7:38 p.m

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Helene damages historic buildings in Georgia

Several historic buildings have partially collapsed in downtown Valdosta.

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 7:35 p.m

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North Carolina's Lake Lure Dam is “compromised” but is holding

Rutherford County, North Carolina, said that while water is reaching and flowing around the sides of its Lake Lure dam and the dam's structural supports are damaged, the dam is “currently holding up.”

“There were evacuations from the dam to Island Creek Road. Evacuation sirens sound below the dam. Emergency responders are working with civil engineers and going house to house to ensure all citizens have been evacuated. Evacuees are being temporarily transported to Ingles in Lake Lure,” it said.

People in the area can text AlertRC to 888777 to receive emergency updates.

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 7:28 p.m

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Tropical Depression Helene is still causing historic, catastrophic flooding in the Appalachian Mountains in the Southeast

Tropical Depression Helene was moving about 125 miles south-southeast of Louisville, Kentucky, Friday afternoon.

The storm was still moving north-northwestward, although its speed is expected to slow.

The low pressure system is forecast to stall in the Tennessee Valley tonight and into the weekend.

Continued slow weakening is expected and Helene is forecast to become extratropical later this afternoon.

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 6:50 p.m

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Hurricane Helene surrounds cars in Pinellas County with massive amounts of sand

Images from Pinellas County, Florida show how destructive water can be.

Julia MustoSeptember 27, 2024 6:42 p.m