Press Release from Emergency Operations Center

Based on forecasting from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) River Forecast Center, Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) is issuing an urgent notice to residents in communities along the French Broad River in East Knox County regarding potential flooding due to increasing the release of swell water from Douglas Dam.

The release of water is necessary to maintain the integrity of the dam as water flows downstream from affected areas in Northeast Tennessee.

Douglas Dam is currently at 55,000 cfs discharge. Mid-afternoon today, an increase to 66,000 cfs is planned and estimated to be maintained for 2-3 days.

The French Broad is projected to rise 2.0 - 2.5 feet during this discharge. This is a dynamic and changing situation.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

I. Stay informed by monitoring local news and social media accounts for Knox County, the City of Knoxville, Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency, and all emergency response agencies in the area.

2. Be prepared for potential flooding and possible evacuation.

3. Avoid driving through flooded areas, as it can be difficult to gauge the depth of the water and the condition of the road.

If evacuation is recommended, emergency response agencies and KEMA will notify the affected communities as quickly as possible.

KEMA will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary.