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officers in the south east texas Evacuated residents are being urged to stay away from their homes after an eight-inch hole was found in a large drain dam,
People living south of the Carter Lake Dam in Camden, about 70 miles north of Houston, were first notified to evacuate their homes following concerns Saturday night. dam A compromise was reached. Officials said a resident of the area had reported “rapid water seeping from the dam”.
Emergency crews went door-to-door and warned residents to evacuate after a hole was discovered in a nearby embankment. Now, residents are being urged to stay away for the next three days, with emergency shelters set up to house displaced people.
In a statement, the Polk County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) said the dam’s owners have now deployed engineers who are working to drain water from the lake to assess the damage.
It reads, “The goal is to lower the lake water level approximately 2 feet from its current state, so that dam property owners can have a better view of the extent of the damage.” “Pumping crews will monitor pumps overnight, and emergency response partners will monitor the area of concern overnight.
“The property owners of the dam are expected to begin negotiations with an engineering firm tomorrow. The County estimates it could take up to 3 days to learn the extent of the damage and receive assurances from the engineer that the dam is stable and it is safe for residents to return home.
“Individuals living in the evacuation zone are encouraged to stay away from the area until further notice.”
Officials told local media that around 20-30 homes were believed to be affected in the area. A flash flood warning will remain in place in the area until 6:00 pm local time on Monday.
There have been no reports of flooding so far, with a “steady” stream of water coming from the dam since Saturday, officials said.
A shelter has been set up at a local gym in Livingston.