![\"Floodwaters](\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/GettyImages-1034889694_cef742-e1727469830353.jpeg?resize=384%2C216\")
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Hurricane Helene has brought tornado watches<\/a>, flood alerts, power outages and more destruction in its path<\/a>. After it made landfall<\/a> in Florida on Thursday, September 26, the tropical cyclone<\/a>-turned-hurricane moved up the coast instead of veering farther west. After hitting southern states including North and South Carolina, Tennessee is now facing the storm\u2019s wrath. The town of Newport in Cocke County is facing major flooding because the Waterville Dam had a breach<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Friday, September 27, Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis announced that the dam had failed, and he encouraged locals to evacuate<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cTHE WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE,\u201d Mathis wrote via Facebook. \u201cEVACUATION ALL OF DOWNTOWN NEWPORT IMMEDIATELY.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier that day, Mathis assured the public that emergency preparations had been made in anticipation of the storm\u2019s impact.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 #BREAKING<\/a>: WATERVILLE DAM IN NC HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE<\/p>\n The Mayor is ordering the town of Newport, TN to evacuate IMMEDIATELY, as it\u2019s directly downstream from the dam.<\/p>\n This is incredibly dangerous, and could very easily take out the entire town if it breaks.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/gapIZJWdvg<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cAll county and city emergency resources are currently fully engaged in water rescue and evacuation operations,\u201d Mathis said, according to WVLT 8<\/a>. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n I-40 East is closed starting at MM 432. \u2014 Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) September 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Cocke County \u2014 which includes Newport \u2014 issued a state of emergency shortly after the mayor announced the dam had broken. The Waterville Dam wasn\u2019t the only one that had a breach due to the storm; Walters Dam in Tennessee also failed.<\/p>\n The NWS in Nashville tweeted earlier in the day that the hurricane was going to cause heavy rain and \u201clocalized flooding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHurricane Helene has weakened to a tropical storm and is currently over far eastern TN,\u201d the NWS wrote alongside a photo<\/a> of a map tracking the storm. \u201cIt will bring periods of rain today, heavy at times through this evening. Localized flooding will be possible through tonight. Tonight and through the weekend rain will be more showery.\u201d<\/p>\n Helene\u2019s destruction began on Thursday, September 27, in Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, and officials have reported dozens of deaths so far. After raging through Florida\u2019s coast, Helene moved up toward Georgia and the Carolinas. Atlanta, as a result, suffered several flooding, and parts of Tennessee have experienced heavy rainfall.<\/p>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\nWhat Happened to the Waterville Dam?<\/h2>\n
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Newport, Tennessee, Suffers Flooding<\/h2>\n
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This is the Pigeon River in Cocke County at MM 439.4. pic.twitter.com\/CmbxuKwmHP<\/a><\/p>\nHurricane Helene\u2019s Destructive Path<\/h2>\n