Cocke Co. expecting evacuations, state of emergency declared [Video]

COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — UPDATE (4:30 p.m.): The National Weather Service has canceled a Flash Flood Warning for Cocke County related to a reported dam failure in North Carolina.

According to the NWS, the Walters Dam in Waterville, North Carolina is no longer at risk of an imminent failure. It said flooding along the Pigeon River continues related to Hurricane Helene.

All of downtown Newport was told to evacuate immediately after the Walters Dam in the community of Waterville, North Carolina reportedly suffered a catastrophic failure, according to Mayor Rob Mathis. The dam is located in Haywood County. 

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency also originally said the dam had suffered a catastrophic failure. However, the agency later said on social media that it was told by Duke Energy that the dam had not failed.

The agency said …