Hurricane Helene caused major flooding in North Carolina, leading to concerns about the Walters Dam in Tennessee and the Lake Lure Dam in North Carolina failing. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency issued warnings about the Waterville Dam, while officials in South Carolina were warned about the Lake Lure Dam. The Lake Lure Dam was being monitored closely, with reports of overtopping and compromised structural supports. Emergency responders were working to evacuate residents from downstream communities. The town of Lake Lure had been working on replacing the aging dam, receiving grants from FEMA and the state of North Carolina for the project. The dam is classified as a “high” hazard dam, with potential for loss of life if it fails. Overall, America’s aging dam infrastructure is in need of costly restoration, as they were not designed for today’s climate challenges. The Association of State Dam Safety Officials estimated it would take $157.5 billion to bring nonfederal U.S. dams up to par. Data from 2013 to 2023 showed that 283 dams in the U.S. experienced some kind of failure, highlighting the need for investment in dam safety and maintenance.
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