Hurricane Helene had Human Error

The damages from the storm were not just from Hurricane Helene. There were human errors. The dams did not fail. The waters were manually released because it was thought there were mandatory evacuations in place. Those orders were rescinded and curfew orders were instilled. Whomever released the lake waters never checked back to ensure the evacuation orders were still in place before releasing the lake flood waters to ease the pressure on the dams. Victims need to seek out attorneys now. Their property insurances can subrogate the damages.

There was a mandatory evacuation order in place:

Rutherford Cty Emergency Management rescinded the evacuation order:

LAKE LURE DAM UPDATE: 9/27/24, 8:00 PM:

“Engineers have evaluated the Lake Lure Dam and determined it is no longer at imminent risk of failure. The flow rate has been controlled, and there is no immediate danger.”

Town of Lake Lure, North Carolina Official Website

Quote: “Lake Lure Lake Levels has been dropped by about 5 feet for assessment and repairs of the Dam.” (note: Lake is 720 acres).

The flow rate being controlled meant, water from the lake was released! This water being released could only be done under a mandatory evacuation order. That *was* in place; but rescinded leaving the curfew order in place. This order prohibits you from leaving your home.

This is video of water being released manually to ease the pressure on the dam of Lake Lure. This 14.8 mile long lake was lowered 5 feet. This is the water that flooded North Carolina. Lowering a lake like this can only be done under a mandatory evacuation order. Rescinding it is what caused this devastation.