Officials in McDowell County, North Carolina, are warning residents to “act now to preserve your life” as landslides and floodwaters threaten the Lake Tahoma dam.
The cities of Marion and Old Fort – which have populations of 7,800 and 900, respectively, according to NBC News — and others living below Lake Tahoma are undergoing mandatory evacuations following heavy rainfall of four to six inches over 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service.
A resulting landslide has “compromised the integrity” of the Lake Tahoma dam, the agency said early Wednesday morning.
The NWS reported that floodwaters “have reached levels not seen since the September 2004 floods associated with Hurricanes Frances and Ivan.”
Tweets by the NWS warn “ACT NOW TO PRESERVE YOUR LIFE!” and “THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. HEED ALL EVACUATION ORDERS IMMEDIATELY!”
Those not threatened by floodwaters are instructed to shelter in place and not travel unless they are following evacuation orders.
Shelters for evacuees have been opened at the YMCA in Marion, the Glenwood Baptist Church and Old Fort Baptist Church, according to Weather.com.
