When Tropical Storm Helene brought massive rainfall to western North Carolina, it highlighted just how dangerous dam failures can be.
As the storm closed in on North Carolina Rutherford County Emergency Services announced the threat of imminent failure of the Lake Lure Dam and ordered evacuations of the area. Although the dam held and officials rescinded the risk of failure warning, flooding still caused devastating damages — and it could have been worse.
Towns were devastated as floodwaters destroyed businesses, roads, and homes.
The Lake Lure Dam is located in what is called a “high-hazard area,” which means there is a serious potential for loss of human life if the dam were to break. It’s not the only one either, there are more than 16,000 high-hazard dams across the country, all of them with deadly potential.
RELATED >> Lake Lure Dam no longer at imminent risk of failure, officials say
In North Carolina, 205 dams are deemed to be in either poor or unsatisfactory condition located in high-hazard areas.