GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Tennessee Valley Authority said late Friday evening that a Condition Red Warning had been activated for an impending breach at Nolichucky Dam in Greene County.

“The rupture could occur at any time due to extreme rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which is causing record river levels in the region,” TVA said.

Officials said the breach could lead to potentially life-threatening flooding as far south as Douglas Reservoir, commonly known as Douglas Lake.

The State Red warning was issued about an hour after TVA issued the State Yellow warning, meaning the levee was nearing its limit to withstand excessive flooding.

Also Friday evening, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency in effect for Cocke, Greene and Hamblen counties until at least 3:45 a.m.

The NWS said that if the levee fails completely, the first wave of flooding will hit the West Allens Bridge Road bridge in 20 minutes, the Highway 321 bridge in 30 minutes, the Bewleys Chapel Road bridge in two hours and the Briar Thicket Road bridge will reach in three hours, the Highway 160 bridge in four hours and Douglas Lake in six hours.

The NWS in Morristown said TVA reported an “imminent dam failure” at Nolichucky Dam. TVA said in a statement to WVLT News around 1:30 a.m. that the dam had not failed.

NWS said it is an extremely dangerous situation and people should avoid travel unless leaving an area subject to flooding or an evacuation order.

The Morristown-Hamblen Emergency Management Agency said an emergency evacuation order has been issued for all residents along the Nolichucky River in southern Hamblen County.

The Morristown Rescue Squad said it expects the dam to fail in the next few hours and that water in people’s homes is expected to reach dangerous levels overnight if that occurs.

The EMA said Manley Baptist Church in Morristown was open as a shelter for all evacuees.

Additionally, Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis said homes and businesses in the Centerview and Bybee areas were being evacuated and emergency personnel were going door-to-door to encourage people to move.

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