LAKE LURE, NC – People living near a popular lake in North Carolina’s western mountains have been urged to flee to higher ground as officials warn a dam is on the verge of failure.

The relentless rain from former Hurricane Helene has caused catastrophic flooding from Florida to North Carolina as the storm moves inland across the Southeast.

Rutherford County Emergency Management officials issued a dire warning to residents near Lake Lure in a Facebook post Friday.

“Residents below Lake Lure Dam must immediately evacuate to higher ground!!” officials wrote in the post. “Dam burst is imminent!! Evacuate to higher ground immediately!!”

Previously, officials said water from the flooded Broad River was flowing over Lake Lure Dam. They ordered people living along more than 30 streets near the lake to immediately move to higher ground.

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The National Weather Service has declared a flash flood emergency for areas downstream of the dam, including River Creek Campground, Green Hill, Cleghorn and Union.

“Now move to higher ground!” NWS officials wrote in the warning. “This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing a flood zone or have an evacuation order.”

Officials said a shelter had been set up at a church in the town of Ruthefordton, about 20 miles southeast of Lake Lure.

All of western North Carolina is at high risk for flooding Friday, with up to 20 inches of rain possible in some places before Helene moves away this weekend.

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