HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) – A mandatory evacuation has been issued for all residents in South Hamblen County along the Nolichucky River due to the “imminent failure of the Nolichucky Dam” in Greene County according to the Morristown-Hamblen Emergency Medical Service.
The EMS said a shelter will be open at Manley Baptist at 3603 W Andrew Johnson Hwy in Morristown within the next one to two hours. The City of Morristown shared that there is active evacuation along the Nolichucky in Greene County, Cocke County, and Hamblen County. Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis added that evacuations in the Centerview/Bybee area are underway.
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The Morristown Rescue Squad is urging anyone south of Interstate 81 to evacuate.
“For Hamblen County, this predominately impacts the Enka area near I-81 exit 12. Residents in this area are urged to respond to emergency personnel – Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office and local Volunteer Fire personnel – and evacuate the area as this has become a mandatory evacuation,” wrote the city.
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Due to a lack of visibility of the dam under current conditions and the rate of rise, TVA is issuing a Condition Red Warning of Imminent Breach, which means conditions have developed that could lead to an imminent breach…