Storm «Helen» brought destruction to Florida and Tennessee: destroyed dams, evacuations, floods
28 september 2024 в 00:37
Hurricane Helen brought warnings of tornadoes, flood alerts, power outages, and even more destruction in its path. After making landfall in Florida on Thursday, September 26, the tropical cyclone, which had turned into a hurricane, moved up the coast instead of veering further west. After hitting the southern states, including North and South Carolina, Tennessee is now facing the wrath of the storm. The city of Newport in Cocke County faced serious flooding due to the breach of the Waterville dam.
On Friday, September 27, Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis announced that the dam had collapsed and urged local residents to evacuate.
«WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE», - Mathis wrote on Facebook. «IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE ALL CENTRAL STREETS OF NEWPORT».
Earlier that day, Mathis assured the public that necessary measures had been taken in anticipation of the storm.
The mayor ordered the city of Newport, Tennessee, to evacuate immediately, as it is directly downstream from the dam.
«All emergency resources of the county and city are currently fully engaged in water rescue and evacuation operations», - Mathis said, according to WVLT 8. «We are still a few hours away from the expected high water mark. Thank you to all of our emergency services for their heroic efforts today and in the days to come».
Cocke County, including Newport, declared a state of emergency immediately after the mayor announced the dam’s collapse. The Waterville dam was not the only one to collapse due to the storm; the Walters dam in Tennessee also collapsed.
The NWS in Nashville tweeted earlier that day that the hurricane would bring heavy rains and «localized flooding».
«Hurricane Helen has weakened to a tropical storm and is currently over far eastern Tennessee», - NWS wrote alongside a map tracking the storm. «Today it will bring periods of rain, sometimes heavy until the evening. Localized flooding will be possible until night. Rain will be more showery tonight and over the weekend».
Helen’s destruction began on Thursday, September 27, in Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, and dozens of deaths were officially reported. After passing along the coast of Florida, Helen moved towards Georgia and the Carolinas. As a result, Atlanta experienced several floods, and parts of Tennessee experienced heavy rains
On Friday, September 27, Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis announced that the dam had collapsed and urged local residents to evacuate.
«WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE», - Mathis wrote on Facebook. «IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE ALL CENTRAL STREETS OF NEWPORT».
Earlier that day, Mathis assured the public that necessary measures had been taken in anticipation of the storm.
The mayor ordered the city of Newport, Tennessee, to evacuate immediately, as it is directly downstream from the dam.
«All emergency resources of the county and city are currently fully engaged in water rescue and evacuation operations», - Mathis said, according to WVLT 8. «We are still a few hours away from the expected high water mark. Thank you to all of our emergency services for their heroic efforts today and in the days to come».
Cocke County, including Newport, declared a state of emergency immediately after the mayor announced the dam’s collapse. The Waterville dam was not the only one to collapse due to the storm; the Walters dam in Tennessee also collapsed.
The NWS in Nashville tweeted earlier that day that the hurricane would bring heavy rains and «localized flooding».
«Hurricane Helen has weakened to a tropical storm and is currently over far eastern Tennessee», - NWS wrote alongside a map tracking the storm. «Today it will bring periods of rain, sometimes heavy until the evening. Localized flooding will be possible until night. Rain will be more showery tonight and over the weekend».
Helen’s destruction began on Thursday, September 27, in Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, and dozens of deaths were officially reported. After passing along the coast of Florida, Helen moved towards Georgia and the Carolinas. As a result, Atlanta experienced several floods, and parts of Tennessee experienced heavy rains
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
