Recently, the Lake Lure Dam in North Carolina has been in the news over its stability. Heavy rains from Hurricane Helene raised the water level in the Broad River by a large margin, pushing huge pressure on the dam. On September 27, 2024, authorities warned of the dam’s imminent failure, forcing the beginnings of evacuations in areas around the dam.
The residents in the area living downstream were advised to immediately move to higher grounds as the water was already overtopping the dam. The management teams were involved in ensuring the safety of every one of them by going door to door and making people evacuate. The situation was critical since the structural supports of the dam were compromised.
Not all was doom and gloom, however. Later in the evening on September 27, word came that the dam was no longer considered to be in imminent danger of failing. Engineers felt the dam had been overtopped and there had been some erosion, but for now, it was holding.
This one roughed up the town of Lake Lure pretty good-25 miles east of Asheville. The roads were blocked, and trees were down, complicating the emergency response. Locals rallied; evacuees were temporarily housed at an Ingles grocery store, with an emergency shelter set up at RS Central High School.
Whereas the immediate danger has passed, the situation is still precarious. Officials are keeping a close eye on the dam and are pursuing more long-term solutions to ensure the structure will be stable for the foreseeable future. The situation brought into sharp focus the problem of the maintenance of infrastructure in case disasters strike, as well as preparedness in general.
For now, residents in Lake Lure can breathe a little easier, but the memory of this close call will more than likely live with them for some time.
About The Author
