The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for Southeastern Putnam County until 11:45 p.m. Central Time after an earth dam broke.
The dam failure at Wrights Lake in Monterey near the Perdue Farms plant was reported at 5:47 p.m. CT. The NWS said the water was flowing southwest from the dam toward U.S. 70 and Monterey Lake.
Flooding is expected in areas southwest of the dam from Wrights Lake along Highway 70, Highway 40, and over Calfkiller Highway, according to the NWS. Residents along streams and creeks in those areas should take immediate precautions to protect life and property and seek higher ground.
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the water is flowing down the Calfkiller area of eastern Putnam County into White County. He said the breached area is not expanding, but Emergency Management officials are monitoring it closely.
He also said that there have not been any injuries reported as of Friday evening
The Cumberland County EMA Director said the dam is just over the county line in Putnam County, and water is flowing away from them.
Putnam County EMA director Tyler Smith said about 20 feet of water has already drained from the lake as of 7:10 p.m. Most of the water is draining into the culvert system, but Smith said they are concerned it will get overrun.
