EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of the dam.
NEWPORT, Tenn. (WATE) – Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis is urging residents near water to "relocate immediately" and avoid driving through floodwaters. In response to the situation, he has declared a State of Emergency for Cocke County.
At 2:56 p.m., Mathis announced that the Waterville Dam, also known as Walters Dam, had suffered a catastrophic failure, ordering the evacuation of all of downtown Newport. However, by 4:41 p.m., the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) reported that Duke Energy confirmed the dam had not failed.
TEMA emphasized that evacuations were still ongoing and urged residents to continue following local officials' guidance.
Related: Sevier County residents urged to conserve water due to flooding in Newport.
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