Oktibbeha County dam in imminent danger of failing

The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors and emergency management is urging residents near the county lake to evacuate immediately due to an imminent dam failure.

County Emergency Management Director Karen Campanella says heavy rains have caused extremely high water levels. The county engineer examined the dam at the Oktibbeha County Lake and reported that the dam could go at any time, WLBT is reporting.

Oktibbeha County is encouraging residents who live near the Oktibbeha County Lake Dam to evacuate. After inspection, the County Engineer believe failure of the dam is imminent. Listed below are the roads that will be closed in the event of a failure #mswx pic.twitter.com/bEZweJmWdf

— MSEMA (@MSEMA) January 14, 2020

At this time, the evacuation is not mandatory; however, Campanella is strongly urging residents near the dam, located between Riviera Road and Walter Bell Road just north of Perkins Drive, to move to safety as quickly as possible.

The county’s community safe room in Starkville on Lynn Lane is open to assist residents.