Officials in Virginia fear dam will collapse as heavy rain forces evacuations

[DonViejo]

Source: CNN



By Andreas Preuss, CNN

Updated 3:58 AM ET, Fri August 3, 2018

(CNN) - A dire warning from the National Weather Service has forced an evacuation around the College Lake Dam in Lynchburg, Virginia.

A flash flood warning issued Thursday night by the NWS reports "if a complete failure of the dam occurs, the water depth at Lynchburg could exceed 17 feet in 7 minutes." The area impacted would be the city of Lynchburg, which is one mile downstream from the dam.

An updated report issued just after midnight by the NWS said the dam has not failed, and is being closely monitored by emergency personnel for any signs of structural failure."

Lynchburg Water Resources Department reported that 4 to 6 inches of heavy rain earlier in the evening caused College Lake to fill beyond its capacity.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/03/us/virginia-flooding-possible-dam-collapse/index.html

[underpants]

1. Heard this on the radio this morning. Crazy amount of rain here

Nonstop everyday it seems.

[lagomorph777]

5. Everything is mold and mushrooms around here

Sick of it!

If only we could swap weather every other day with CA.

[Achilleaze]

2. republican lies about climate change are dangerous for America

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[scarytomcat]

3. since I moved to Virginia I have always wondered where the name Lynchburg came from

Does it surround a famous oak tree?
Hope the dam doesn't give out some nice people live there.

[VMA131Marine]

4. It's a sign from God to Jerry Falwell Jr

*Liberty University is in Lynchburg

[lagomorph777]

6. Well I hope the good people of Lynchburg don't pay for Falwell's sins.

[underpants]

7. It's actually very close to this dam

but then everything in Lynchburg is near Liberty - massive expansion over just the last few years.

Lynchburg College is all that separates Liberty from this dam.

[irisblue]

8. From the local paper. www.newsadvance.com

UPDATE, 12:25 p.m. Aug. 3: Engineering firm WileyWilson "is currently completing the conditions assessment of the College Lake Dam," according to an update sent shortly after noon Friday from Lynchburg Water Resources.

The firm has found no seepage and the dam is considered stable at this hour.

"We are developing a plan to stabilize the dam which may include opening the sluice gate at the dam to reduce the water levels. Opening the sluice will not empty the lake completely as it is only a 3x3' culvert, but homeowners downstream may see slightly increased stream levels on Blackwater Creek. However, no significant flooding will result if this action is taken," according to the update.