COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — UPDATE (3 p.m.): All of downtown Newport is being told to evacuate immediately after the Walters Dam in the community of Waterville, North Carolina suffered a catastrophic failure, according to Mayor Rob Mathis. The dam is located in Haywood County, NC.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency also said the dam had suffered a catastrophic failure. The agency said all of downtown Newport should evacuate immediately.
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The Cocke County Emergency Management Agency said evacuations are expected for those near the Pigeon and French Broad rivers.
A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Cocke County until 4 p.m. Friday.
Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis urged people near the rivers to relocate immediately, saying the situation was "changing by the minute." A shelter is open at the Newport Community Center at 433 Prospect Avenue. Team Farrell at 4925 Hooper Highway in Cosby said it would also open up a shelter for people in need.
The EMA said the best option for those who have to evacuate is to stay with friends or family in the area, but the shelters ar available if needed.
Parts of Hartford, which is along the Pigeon River, were partially underwater as of late Friday morning. The Tennessee Department of Transportation shared video of flooding overtaking the Pigeon River Smokehouse off I-40.
In Newport, the Pigeon River flooded up to homes and businesses along Main Street and River Street.
Cocke County Jail inmates were evacuated to higher ground into the Cocke County Courthouse.
As of 1 p.m., Cocke County said the following roads were closed:
- I-40 East from Exit 432 to the North Carolina state line
- Highway 321 South of Wilton Springs
- Wilton Springs road
- Middle Creek Road
- Portions of Main Street and Broadway in Newport
Rivers Expected to Flood Near Record Levels
Even though Tropical Storm Helene is moving out of the area, severe river flooding levels will increase into Saturday because of the catastrophic flooding happening in North Carolina that will flow down into the French Broad and Pigeon rivers.
RELATED: Fallen trees, wrecks, flooding and power outages reported as Helene moves into East Tennessee
The Pigeon River in Cocke County has reached a major flood stage and is at 20.5 feet as of 1 p.m., which is the highest the river has been since the floods of 2004. It's risen close to 10 feet in the past six hours. By Friday night, it's expected to reach 22 feet.
The French Broad River was at 14 feet as of 9 a.m. Friday and was steadily rising. It is expected to reach major flood stage by Friday night and is forecast to crest at 23 feet by 8 a.m. Saturday.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation said the ramps on and off of I-40 were closed at Exit 447 to Hartford Road Friday morning after the road flooded.
This story is ongoing and we will update you as we learn more.