Evacuations underway downstream of Cowans Ford Damn on Lake Norman

Evacuations are underway downstream of Cowans Ford Dam on Lake Norman, which feeds Mountain Island Lake. There is an imminent fear of a dam breach in this area. Here is an aerial view from our sister station, WSOC.

[@MrAtrus64]

Weird Why wouldn’t they open a couple of spillways to start releasing pressure gradually ?

[@user-tr8rg1xg9e]

Dang! How many dams are critical? America might want to save some foreign aid monies for its own aging infrastructures? 😬

[@thearch1tect249]

Rename it Lake Ukraine damn and you will get billions!

[@bgatlin5918]

Nah, we wouldn’t want to DO THAT !!!

[@catpaladin1]

Vote BLUE since it is the DEMS who put money to infrastructure.

[@gregstephens2339]

@@thearch1tect249 Most of the aid to Ukraine is in cold war era military equipment that would have cost more to demilitarized. Turn off the Russian propaganda.

[@ricklepick9148]

People are not understanding what is happening here. BREACH, not break. Too much water in too short a period of time means the water is threatening to overflow the flood gates. The dam is not in danger of breaking. The money sent to keep Putin from stealing Ukraine did not make it rain.

[@shamiemcguire1588]

These people have been on this task 24/7. And know the the damn to a T. A lot of stupid people commenting.

[@catpaladin1]

I just said this to my armchair director father lol. We both laughed.

[@buzztp5119]

The evacuation route goes right below the dam that could break any second ? Who planned that escape route ?

[@Sarcastrophus]

FEMA, I'd bet

[@TheWonkster]

​@Sarcastrophus about the intelligence level I'd expect from a NC denizen. To actually answer the question, there's nowhere else to go

[@betterstill100]

Perhaps it is the only way. Paradise CA, had two routes out during their forest fire and one was blocked by fire.

[@larryreynolds7822]

It’s safe till it”a not, government logic…

[@ricklepick9148]

Breach, not break. Water is in danger of overflowing the flood gates, at which point, there is essentially a loss of control of flood waters, you are at nature's mercy, more or less. Given a choice, I'll take a breach over a break any day.

[@MichaelMcMahon1969]

This is a result of not planning for the storm to track east, and thus not drawing down the level to a level that could handle a massive tropical storm rainfall!

[@mercenarygrip]

Damn, that's a nice dam.

[@user-hs5in6vv1h]

True, but the damn dam's damned!

[@docohm50]

This dam is in North Carolina. Thanks Google

[@catpaladin1]

Thank you for posting the state. We thought it was NC but not sure

[@ricklepick9148]

A lot of commenters here don't know what breach means. The dam is not in danger of breaking.

[@mattclontz2770]

Do you have any dam bait. 😂 Sorry could not resist 😂

[@stacynail-dy8mj]

Why are those people just standing around?

[@auberthere3737]

This would be a nightmare.

[@murphski702]

We'll this was uneventful.

[@kebo57]

So they opened two flood gates on the spillway... what's the big deal? Is that little bit of water going to overwhelm the resevoirs downstream??? Surely this is not the first time for this to happen????

[@ricklepick9148]

No, it's not. I have lived in this area for a couple decades and it wouldn't be the first time I have seen the dam breached. Some people are not understanding breach is not the same as break.

[@billh-gl2lf]

The deal is that Duke Energy, which basically owns the water rights in this area is slow about releasing the water at the dam gradually,it’s been an issue in this area for decades…I live literally about 5 miles away from the Cowans Ford dam…

[@ricklepick9148]

@@billh-gl2lf Agreed, not sure why they weren't preparing for this days ago.

[@jonathang1445]

why would it be in danger of breaking. ?? water isn't even over the spill ways

[@esmith818]

It's not in danger of breaking. They are intentionally opening the gates to move water down river.

[@Hakuna_Frittata]

Water is continuously flowing into the reservoir. Duke Energy is going to release a massive amount of water. Level is expected to be 10' above maximum.

[@joyfullone3968]

Water level is too high now due to Hurricane Helene so they will open the spillways more is what is happening.

[@scottfrye7027]

Yep, thats right near the nuclear power plant

[@carlagalois3191]

No it's not. It's a new gas burning facility owned by Duke Energy.

[@lisalewis7334]

​@carlagalois3191 OH, they converted the nuclear to gas? My Dad lives right near this dam and never told me they converted it.

[@charlestonian9724]

All those people right under the dam. Should it break, they’d all be in serious trouble.

[@bgatlin5918]

What in the world are they thinking?

[@ricklepick9148]

NOT in danger of breaking, in danger of breaching.

[@billh-gl2lf]

They are under a voluntary evacuation order right now….it’s happened before….not recently but it’s not rare

[@kaciecunningham9364]

As someone who lives less than 5 miles from this dam I can tell you, no one was right under the it. Yes we were south of it but elevated above the river. Furthermore, this was a controlled release of a lake that is 50sq miles and still 2ft below max capacity and they only opened 1 of 11 flood gates. No one was in any danger and there are no concerns of this dam failing. But I can also tell you it was an amazing sight to see!!!

[@carlfreeman795]

How long are they gonna leave it open?

[@joyfullone3968]

This is at Lake Norman which is north of Charlotte, NC.

[@billh-gl2lf]

Yes,it’s on the line between Mecklenburg and Lincoln County…. I live about 5 miles away by road about 3 ,as the crow flies

[@joyfullone3968]

@@billh-gl2lfI don’t think I have ever seen the back side of a spillway when it’s opened before.

[@rdh53]

How many gates do they plan to open?

[@devonnabrown1234]

I sure wouldn't be standing down below the Dam just waiting for breach, failure or whatever......evacuation is ordered for a reason. Please people make good choices.

[@catpaladin1]

It’s a DAM not damn. Although I’m sure many people are defaulting to the second spelling today.

[@Arby1965]

Shouldn't the headline read "Dam" Instead of "Damn"? That damn dam is at it again!

[@thearch1tect249]

Damn......Damn Damn - Emmit "Doc" Brown!

[@TemplesOfOurGods]

This is heavy

[@thearch1tect249]

@@TemplesOfOurGods There's that word again. "Heavy." Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull?

[@FloridaManMMACrypto]

Pretty sure there's a nuclear power plant on the south side of Lake Norman

[@carlagalois3191]

I'm sure they took it off line.

[@carlagalois3191]

Nope it's a new facility owned by Duke Energy. It's a gas burner.

[@billh-gl2lf]

McGuire nuclear power plant is literally about a half mile away from the dam

[@FloridaManMMACrypto]

@@carlagalois3191 woah easy there Fed. You're gonna mix up the storylines

[@toddmaners1746]

@@carlagalois3191no, it’s a nuclear power plant (McGuire Nuclear Station)…it’s been operating here for years

[@sammiller9799]

Swang it passed your knees

[@DanKoerner]

I hope they inform the people down on the golf course at the bottom of the dam.

[@catpaladin1]

Naw. They’re hoping they will just wash away lol😂

[@joeb3300]

"Dam", not "Damn".

[@fueymanchoo1291]

At least not yet!

[@tksever]

😂 I completely missed that, pretty sad

[@1FishinAddict]

Damn! Lol

[@HI74IH]

Top much technology

[@TheWonkster]

As opposed to what? Someone with a rope and pulley to lift the tarred wooden gates that would have failed already?