Evacuation Urged After Carter Lake Dam Compromised in Polk County

Carter Lake Dam Emergency

• ⚠️ Polk County Emergency Management has issued an urgent evacuation notice for residents south of the Carter Lake Dam due to a compromised embankment.
• 💡 The dam, located on a private lake in the town of Camden, sustained damage discovered this afternoon, prompting precautionary evacuations.
• 🏠 The evacuation zone impacts approximately 20 to 30 homes, with specific streets like Henry Darden Road and Marie Road identified as potentially affected.

Official Response and Shelter

• 🚒 Responders, including the Sheriff's Office and Corgan Volunteer Fire Department, conducted door-to-door notifications to urge residents to leave the area.
• 🏥 A shelter has been established at Dunar Gym on Dunar Avenue in Livingston for individuals who need a place to stay or require assistance.
• 📦 County officials are ensuring emergency supplies are on hand for those displaced by the situation.

Dam Status and Unknowns

• ❓ The exact extent of the damage to the dam and the associated risks are still unclear as property owners continue to assess the situation.
• 📉 While the hole in the embankment was discovered this afternoon and has not worsened into the evening, officials are taking every precaution.
• 🌊 Residents are urged to evacuate as a measure against potential flooding in the event of a dam breach, described as the worst-case scenario.