Dam concerns, evacuations ordered, people rescued as life-threatening floods hit Gulf

 A dam in Mississippi is being monitored for potential failure, officials said Thursday, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, moved through the Gulf of Mexico region, pounding states with life-threatening flash floods.

A flash flood emergency was issued for Anchor Lake Dam, located near the city of Carriere, in southern Mississippi and areas downstream on the East Hobolochitto Creek on Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

"The Anchor Lake Dam remains in a caution status," the Pearl River County Office of Emergency Services said in a statement Thursday. "There is the potential for the dam to experience structural issues, including possible failure or overflow."

Emergency personnel are monitoring the situation closely, it said.

The National Weather Service had earlier reported that the Anchor Lake Dam had failed, citing local emergency management, though it later issued an update that the dam "is being monitored for possible failure."Radar estimates that between 4 and 9 inches of rain have fallen in this area.

East Hobolochitto Creek, located near the Caesar, Mississippi, neighborhood in Picayune, is cresting to moderate flood stage and will likely reach major flood stage, which in turn would likely result in major flooding, with several homes and business structures located in low-lying areas along state highway 43 underwater, according to the NWS. The creek could also rise past its all-time record high crest of 21.5 feet, set on Sept. 2, 2012.

The situation at the Anchor Lake Dam was one of the five flash flood emergencies issued Thursday in parts of southern Louisiana and Mississippi due to the heavy rain hitting the region.Stone County, Alabama, and south-central Pearl River County in Mississippi have seen over 10 inches of rainfall Thursday. Southern Avoyelles Parish near the town of Cottonport, in central Louisiana, saw 12 to 26 inches of rain by Thursday afternoon, according to the NWS.

First responders and other emergency crews in Avoyelles reported evacuations in multiple locations during the flash floods as numerous homes were flooded, according to local authorities.

An additional 3 to 6 inches of rainfall are possible in Avoyelles with some bands and pockets of rain potentially producing rainfall rates up to 3 to 5 inches per hour, according to the NWS.

A rare High Risk, level 4 of 4, for life-threatening flood potential was in place over southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and western Florida panhandle along the central Gulf Coast Thursday, the NWS said. 

Historically, a third of all flood-related fatalities and 80% of all flood-related damages occur in such high-risk areas, according to NWS data.

Areas under the High Risk advisory include Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and the Mississippi cities of Gulfport, McComb and Hattiesburg. 

Historically, a third of all flood-related fatalities and 80% of all flood-related damages occur in such high-risk areas, according to NWS data.

Areas under the High Risk advisory include Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and the Mississippi cities of Gulfport, McComb and Hattiesburg. 

Historically, a third of all flood-related fatalities and 80% of all flood-related damages occur in such high-risk areas, according to NWS data.

Areas under the High Risk advisory include Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and the Mississippi cities of Gulfport, McComb and Hattiesburg. 

Historically, a third of all flood-related fatalities and 80% of all flood-related damages occur in such high-risk areas, according to NWS data.

Areas under the High Risk advisory include Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and the Mississippi cities of Gulfport, McComb and Hattiesburg.