GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Tennessee Valley Authority said late Friday night that a Condition Red Warning had been activated for an imminent breach at Nolichucky Dam in Greene County.

“The breach could occur at any time due to extreme rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene which is causing record river levels around the region,” TVA said.

Officials said the breach can cause potentially life-threatening flooding as far downstream as Douglas Reservoir, commonly known as Douglas Lake.

The Condition Red Warning was issued about an hour after TVA issued a Condition Yellow Warning, which meant the dam was approaching its threshold to withstand excessive floodwater.

Also Friday night, the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Emergency that is in place until at least 3:45 a.m. for Cocke, Greene and Hamblen counties.

The NWS said if a complete failure of the dam happens, the initial flood wave will reach the West Allens Bridge Road bridge in 20 minutes, the Highway 321 bridge in 30 minutes, the Bewleys Chapel Road bridge in two hours, the Briar Thicket Road bridge in three hours, the Highway 160 bridge in four hours and Douglas Lake in six hours.

The NWS in Morristown said TVA reported “imminent dam failure” of the Nolichucky Dam. TVA said in a statement to WVLT News at around 1:30 a.m. that the dam has not failed.

NWS said it is an extremely dangerous situation and to avoid traveling unless you are leaving an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.

The Morristown-Hamblen Emergency Management Agency said an emergency evacuation order was issued for all residents along the Nolichucky River in south Hamblen County.

The Morristown Rescue Squad said they expect the dam to fail within the next few hours and that water is expected to reach dangerous heights at people’s homes overnight if this happens.

The EMA said Manley Baptist Church in Morristown is open as a shelter for anyone being evacuated.

Additionally, Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis said homes and businesses in the Centerview and Bybee areas are being evacuated with emergency crews going door-to-door to encourage people to relocate.