Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) has issued an urgent warning to residents in East Knox County about potential flooding along the French Broad River. This warning is based on forecasts from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) River Forecast Center, which indicate an increase in water release from Douglas Dam.
The increase in water release is necessary to preserve the integrity of the dam as water flows downstream from areas in Northeast Tennessee. Currently, Douglas Dam has a discharge of 55,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), with plans to increase this to 66,000 cfs by mid-afternoon today. This elevated discharge level is expected to be maintained for two to three days.
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Due to this increase, the French Broad River is projected to rise by 2.0 to 2.5 feet. KEMA advises residents in the affected areas to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions. These include staying informed through local news and social media from Knox County, the City of Knoxville, and emergency response agencies. Residents should also be prepared for potential flooding and possible evacuations, and avoid driving through flooded areas due to safety risks.
In the event that evacuation becomes necessary, KEMA and other emergency response agencies will quickly notify the affected communities. KEMA will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. For further information, residents are encouraged to view all news from the relevant agencies.
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TDEC Orders Water Conservation in East Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has issued a mandatory water conservation order for several counties in Upper East Tennessee due to limited resources following a recent storm. Residents are encouraged to limit water use for non-essential activities, and several local utilities have issued Boil Water Advisories. TDEC is working with local authorities and has provided an online dashboard for updates on affected water systems.