Swain Co. Dams

0
Nantahala Power
•�• and Light Company
February 15, 1995
Dear Cedar Cliff Functional Test Participant,
Corresponding Office
Thanks again for your help in making the December ' 13 Cedar Cliff Functional Test go
well. We all benefited from the Tuckasegee River flood simulation.
To extend the benefits of the exercise, a copy of our report to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission is attached. Copies are also being sent to persons who were invited, but
unable to attend, the exercise.
Besides the report itself, also enclosed are a list of participants, critique summary, and
newspaper account of the 1940 Tuckasegee River flood.
We hope this information will be useful in implementing lessons learned through this
exercise.
Again, thank you very much for your assistance.
With best wishes,
Fred Alexander
Manager of Corporate Communications
AFA/aso
Enclosure a ,
s F E R
va,r,T
General Office 17 West Main Street • P.O. Box 260, Franklin, North Carolina 28734. 704.524-2121

EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
FUNCTIONAL TEST REPORT
CEDAR CLIFF DAM - FERC PROJECT 2698-NC
conducted on December 13, 1994
NANTAHALA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY, Franklin, North Carolina

n
REPORT ON FUNCTIONAL EAP EXERCISE
CEDAR CLIFF HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
Nantahala Power and Light Company
FERC Project 2698-NC
I. EXERCISE PURPOSE
II. DATE AND LOCATION
III. EXERCISE DESIGN
A. Physical Set-up
B. Participant Selection Process
C. Expectations
IV. EXERCISE CRITIQUE
A. Summary of Oral Critique
B. Written Comments
C. Timeliness of Response
V. EXERCISE RESULTS
A. Lessons Learned
B. Recommendations
1. Improvements to EAP
2. Ways to Improve Future Exercises
VI. FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS AND SCHEDULE
VII. SUMMARY OF KEY CRITIQUE COMMENTS, LESSONS LEARNED, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
APPENDICES
A. List of Participants
B. Copy of Narrative and Messages
C. Copies of Written Critiques
D. Copies of Other Pertinent Handouts
E. Physical Set-up
F. Other Planning Communications
G. The 1940 Flood: newspaper accounts
2

REPORT ON FUNCTIONAL EAP EXERCISE
CEDAR CLIFF HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
Nantahala Power and Light Company
FERC Project 2698-NC
I. EXERCISE PURPOSE.
A. General. The overall purposes of the Cedar Cliff Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
functional test were to (1) promote emergency preparedness on all relevant levels and (2)
provide a more rigorous evaluation of the EAP than possible with lower level tests. As such,
it was the first multi -county functional test of a historically predictable flood conducted in
southwestern North Carolina.
The test was co-chaired by the superintendent responsible for the Cedar Cliff Project and the
training officer of the western regional office of the N.C. Emergency Management Division. The
latter was also the exercise director.
B. Specifics. The exercise was designed to demonstrate and evaluate Nantahala
Power and Light's ability to respond to a 50,000 CFS flood without dam failure on the
Tuckasegee. Coordination and communication between NP&L and variety of agencies were also
tested. Using Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) guidelines, these five areas were
identified for testing:
1. Alert, notification, and warning.
2. Evacuation.
3. Direction and control function.
4. Shelters.
5. Public information.
II. DATE AND LOCATION.
The functional test was held on Tuesday, December 13, 1994 in the Ramsey Center of
Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C.
III. EXERCISE DESIGN
A. Physical Set-up and Level of Play.
1. Physical set-up. The Ramsey Center Hospitality Room accommodated

A
exercise participants for the pre -test information session and post-test evaluation. Microphones
were used to ensure comments could be heard from all areas. The actual test, however, was
conducted along the oval -shaped concourse of the Center. Layout is shown in Appendix E. This
arrangement allowed for separation between Jackson and Swain County work groups, state
agencies, news media, NP&L, and other agencies. To partially simulate operations centers, a
complete set of inundation maps was mounted and displayed and NP&L, state and both county
locations.
2. Level of Play. Some participants recalled the 1940 flood that occurred in the
same general area as this test. Their memories, old photos, and knowledge that such a flood
nearly occurred twice in the previous six months, was especially motivational. Participants found
the exercise fast -paced and intense. The wide variety of players reflected participant interest and
the number of volunteer rescue and fire departments that serve this somewhat remote,
mountainous and rural area. One shortcoming was the absence of a representative from the
Jackson County Sheriffs Department because of unavoidable duties that day. However, both
EOCs functioned well. The Jackson Sheriff, however, made major contributions during the
earlier tabletop test and is clearly committed to emergency response.
B. Selection of Participants. The invitation list was based on a review of the EAP
notification diagram, input from county and state emergency managers and elected officials, and
participants of the tabletop exercise. County and state emergency managers extended invitations
through their normal channels. NP&L made follow-up mailing with directions and schedules.
Appendix A lists participants.
C. Expectations. NP&L expectations were to find any parts of the EAP needing
improvement, to inform and learn from various emergency response organizations, develop more
effective working relationships with all concerned, and encourage local government leaders and
emergency planners. Other expectations and goals were listed in section I.B. above.
IV. EXERCISE CRITIQUE.
A. Summary of Oral Critique (Debriefing) Comments.
1. Nantahala Power &Light Company: NTP&L reacted to conditions by
providing appropriate notification. Cedar Cliff Dam did not over -top or fail, making this event a
natural flood. Bryson City and Sylva rerouted the hospital service and worked outages. We did
have to react to a bomb threat at one of the dams which created a yellow alert, indicating the
potential of a dam failure. This was initiated when we were told there were explosives at Wolf
Creek, which would have taken out Wolf Creek, Bear Creek and Cedar Cliff. It was canceled
when we were informed that the bomber was captured. A second yellow alert was initiated when
the trigger level of Cedar Cliff, a discharge of 50,000 cubic feet per second, was reached. It was
cancelled when the creek receded.
E

s
2. FERC. New guidelines will clarify flood advisory thresholds. There seemed
to be some confusion between yellow alert and the yellow zones on the inundation maps. Also, in
some instances, it seemed that some actions were taken before people got a message.
Organizations should wait until message receipt before reacting. We appreciate all the
participation.
3. State Agencies . Civil Air Patrol realized the need to inform agencies of its
various resources. N.C. DOT realized that plans for alternate fuel sources must be made. State
Emergency Management informed counties that they can expect to be on their own in natural
disasters for 72 hours. Western North Carolina may be basically cut off from the rest of the
state in the event of major flooding The only state resources that we would have are those
located within WNC counties. In a flood like this, we would not be able to fly during the floods
and could not bring supplies in.
4. The Jackson County EOC. With the warning time in this scenario, we had
to complete our evacuations in three hours or less. Otherwise, lives could be lost. A lot of
things would have taken place prior to hour 60 and it was hard to start off running cold this far
along into the drill. We called in mutual aid and set up command systems. The state did an
excellent job. Since Swain does not have the IFLOW system, we passed on information to their
EOC as it was monitored. IFLOW was a vital link to us, giving us enough early warning to
secure some things. The overall operation went real well. It was challenging to have so many
messages coming quickly at first and trying to play catch up to get to where we needed to be.
The Jackson PIO is also manager of the only local radio station in the county, thus ensuring good
EOC/station communications. However, it became clear that PIO function is full-time, requiring
a station newsperson to be on hand as well.
5. Jackson County Local Organizations Clearly, we need to do more advance
planning to work out routes during flooding. We were caught short on some routes, supplies ,
and ways of moving people. Some of our workers were themselves up river or on the wrong
side of the river. This was an eye-opener that showed us many more things to anticipate. Ninety
percent of anything you do is prevention. We need to prevent getting into these bad situations
and get all this stuff worked out ahead of time so it works out as a routine thing when it does
happen. The Cullowhee Volunteer Fire Department appreciated the workout given by the
exercise.
6. Western Carolina University. We need to involve our upper level
administrators in developing a written flood response plan to make sure decision -making roles are
defined. From the Blizzard of ' 93, we experienced some of the events in common with a flood,
but this really is a very different situation. We can anticipate an overwhelming number of calls
from concerned parents. In the scenario, one residence hall of 400 students had to be evacuated.
Our dispatch center, located in the basement in the Administration Building, went under water.
We had to move to the second floor of the field house. The Ramsey Center first floor would
5

have probably been under water. There would have been considerable damage and clean up.
Early on we realized that we did not simulate the level of communications actually on campus.
Special problems included students using the river for recreation and a bus in the river. These
brought media interest and the need for close coordination with the Sheriffs Department.
7. Swain County EOC. The Blizzard of ' 93 taught us a lot about working
together. We started out by putting everyone on standby until an emergency was declared. After
beginning with a message about cows in the river, we evacuated people from the Whittier area,
which would be the first population center to be affected. Also, we requested mutual aid from
nearby counties, securing the Graham and Macon County Rescue Squads. We set up three
shelters, utilizing schools and dispatched fire department members and a truck to each one of
them. Each truck had a power generator to use on the well pump to ensure a water supply. An
emergency medical center was established at West School . A major function was simply
keeping track of where resources were employed and when available for additional service.. Our
Health Department gave us a report on shut- in people who could not get out. We made their
evacuation a high priority . We also sent men to check bridges for homeless persons. All in all,
I think we worked really well as team in putting this together,
8. National Weather Service. We were fortunate with this situation. Even
though an organized system came out of the Gulf of Mexico, we only had to deal with one river
basin today. Normally, a former tropical storm coming out of the Gulf in the summer would be
large enough to present problems in several river basins and states at one time. We would be
stretching our resources more than we did today. The other type of flooding event that we
have would be from a smaller scale storm system that might pop up quickly in an afternoon.
Additional regional and national systems are in place to help identify areas with flooding potential
factoring in emerging weather and previous rainfall and soil conditions. Public input, especially
from ham operators, is very valuable.
9. Visiting Electric Utilities. Alabama Power reps suggested that additional
communications problems might add to realism. Tapoco reps felt the layout and exercise were
well done.
10. Exercise Evaluators. The pace kept people engaged. NP&L handled the
bomber incident expeditiously. The Jackson EOC had knowledgeable people and obtained timely
response from other organizations. More people are needed to handle calls, radio operations, and
documentation. The PIO did an excellent job, especially in dealing with rumors. The Swain
EOC was dramatically improved over its condition in a 1991 exercise. The internal set-up and
use of flip charts was good. Resources and evacuations were managed carefully. It might be
useful for Swain to have a liaison person in the Jackson EOC to ensure continuous updates on
conditions.
B. Written Comments. See Appendix C.
C. Timeliness of Response. EAP procedures were implemented in a timely manner by

exercise participants. State and county officials communicated well. Elected officials understood
their responsibilities and made appropriate decisions to expedite evacuation and subsequent
operations. NP&L notifications were in accordance with the EAR; but earlier notification of
flood potential than in the EAP will be incorporated in a new revision. If busy or damaged
phones were a problem, NP&L's internal radio communication system, which includes battery and
generator back-up, would alert employees to visit key Jackson anq Swain officials in minutes. In
both counties, company and county offices are very close.
V. RESULTS OF THE EXERCISE.
A. Lessons Learned
1. Even though the Cedar Cliff dam failure test was conducted only three years
ago, this 1994 test was an important training device because so many key participants have
changed. This was the first functional test in southwestern N.C. to simulate a flood not involving
dam failure.
Z. Although compressed time worked well, written instructions on the concept
would have been useful to some. Time compression creates some problems that would not exist
on a real-time schedule.
3. Requests for state assistance need to be as specific as possible.
4. Although attendance was excellent, it should be noted that some members of
the essential volunteer organizations were either on vacation time or time off without pay.
5. Ham operators are very valuable as a link to areas outside of the disaster
location.
6. NP&L's electrical system will be little affected, However, re-routing power
for hospitals can be anticipated. Also, power should be cut off ahead of the flood waters to
eliminate shock hazards and damage to equipment.
7. Local officials were very motivated by discussions of previous floods and
recent near -misses. The video "Awesome Power," used to open both tabletop and functional
tests, was very successful in engaging participants quickly
8. Slides showing the 1940 flood localized the damage potential of flooding.
Other slides showed numerous homes, farm and buildinLy materials; and bridges that would be
impacted today. Aerial photos taken by the Civil Air Patrol were highly effective in putting
various landmarks and potential problems into geographical context.
7

9. The specially -installed phone system greatly expedited communications.
10. A relatively short exercise such as this cannot simulate all emergency
conditions and also allow participants the opportunity to practice their functions.
11. The best time to take photos of the flood area is after the leaves have fallen
from the trees.
B. Recommendations.
1. Improvements to the EAP. In this location, it is clear that a flood advisory
should be issued by NTP&L apart from a danger to the dam. A new category of "non -failure flood
advisory" will be prepared for an EAP revision.
2. Ways to Improve Future Exercises. Instructions to participants will include
explanations of compressed time and consistent time notation on message forms.
VI. FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS AND SCHEDULE.
A. A copy of this report will be mailed to each participant, plus any organizations that
were unable to provide a representative. This will include the newspaper account of the 1940
flood, which this one virtually duplicated.
B. Copies of the flood video "Awesome Power" were provided already to all emergency
management coordinators in the counties of the NP&L service area. They also received a copy
of the FEMA publication "Successful Media Interviews." The EMCs of the two counties
affected by the exercise flood have already been given prints of the photos used in the opening
slide presentations and an aerial video for use in planning and training.
C. A severe weather preparedness guide, initiated by NT&L, was distributed in all
service area papers in January 1995. A full page of this publication is devoted specifically to
individual preparation and response to flooding and flash flooding.
D. Company management met recently with the Western Carolina University Chancellor
and executive staff to review the slides and discuss the consequences of flooding on the
university.
E. Recommendations on EAP and inundation map changes noted in the FERC letter
dated January 11, 1995 will be submitted by February 27, 1995. Upon approval, changes will be
distributed to EAP holders.

VII. SUMMARY OF KEY CRITIQUE COMMENTS, LESSONS LEARNED, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.
A. General. Prior planning is critical and the NP&L plan worked as expected during the
exercise. But, it is clear that earlier warning of spill potential and installation of the 11 rain
sensors for the IFLOW system will markedly improve emergency response opportunities.
B. Awareness. The exercise heightened the awareness of the potential of flooding on
the Tuckasegee River. Elected officials are aware of their decision -making responsibilities
during such a situation. Emergency management coordinators are prepared to respond.
Volunteer groups that participated are now more conscious of their important roles.
C. Information. The dangers of a suddenly swollen river and steps for coping with it
were made clear. The probable loss of nearly all bridges and virtual isolation of Western
Carolina University were new ingredients to considered in the planning of several organizations.
In fact, the flooding in parts of WNC in mid -January 1995 impacted the exercise counties
somewhat. Though the scenario flood did not appear, many participants found themselves taking
steps based on the very real possibility of such a flood.
D. Refinements. Alternative means of communications, plans for use of volunteer
resources, and coordination between different levels of government and NP&L are working now,
but they must be maintained for a successful response. A recommended EAP change will be
submitted to ensure a more timely notification regarding rising water conditions, even though
there is no danger to the dam. An inundation map change will also be submitted.
E. Increased Readiness. Organizations and individuals are better prepared than before
the exercise. The value of this exercise is illustrated by Appendix C, Written Critiques.
0j

; POWER & LIGHT
1ANTAHALA COMPANY
ATA
CEDAR CLIFF FUNCTIONAL TEST
Please take a few minutes to fill out this form. Your opinions and suggestions
will help us prepare for better exercises in the future.
.1. Please rate the overall exercise on the scale below:
813 AV@rats C
1 2 3 4; 5 6 7, 8 9 10
Very Poor i t eivy'a(iad
2. Compared to previous exercises, this one was:
g;s Auer/►ge
1 2 3 4; 5 6 .7; 8 9 10
Worse Otte-
3. Did the exercise effectively simulate the a environment and
emergency management activities;? o
If no, briefly explain why:.
old ow► w., �� � �s' nm Ne
4. Did the problems presented in the ex er a adequate test readiness and
capability to implement the plan? `Yes.._
qq,,
If no, briefly explain1 why: ' r'ru
�}Dl�olc'J u r ' o
S. The following problems should be deleted or revised:
JL°e �-/1���W►un DG�Yc--�c�i- cr�w��-eJ�r
6. I suggest you add the following,problems for the next exercise:
4,11oa%05, �a!F,ts 4vr cdw.„i-e
7. Please add any other comments or criticisms on the back of this sheet.

CEDAR CLIFF FUNCTIONAL TEST SURVEY RESULTS
DECEMBER 13, 1994
COMMENTS ON QUESTIONS
3. Did the exercise effectively simulate the emergency environment and emergency
management activities? Yes No
If no, briefly explain why:
No: Time frame not real enough.
No:. Circumstances of actual flooding was not real enough as well as time frame.
No: Everyone knew scenario - so not respond without forethought.
Not qualified to judge.
4. Did the problems presented in the exercise adequately test readiness and capability to
implement the plan? Yes No
In no, briefly explain why:
No: Impossible to duplicate actual catastrophe.
Yes: But, only real life use of resources and communications can adequately test
capabilities.
Yes: But, in an actual event fainfall and flooding would be more widespread.
5. The following problems should be deleted or revised:
Bomb at Wolf Creek and Bear Creek Dams.
None, it was very good.
Needs to be more realistic.
Bomb threat at hr 65 - flood condition should activate EAR
Need up to date maps - hwy 107 (new) does not show on maps we were given.
Improved interdepartmental communications to simulate real situation. Local VFDs did'nt
know about shelter setup, etc.

Local resident call in.
Need an updated map.
Each agency should have its own means of contact. Phone numbers should not be shared.
Emergency communications.
Set up medical emergency stations.
Emphasis on routine calls which occur during a large scale incident.
The maps should be updated.
Simulated communications between units is too limited when done by telephone; lack of
simulated broadcasts by media also limits general awareness of what is going on throughout area -
would be made more realistic of this general "context" could be made part of the simulation.
6. I suggest you add the following problems for the next exercise:
Phone system out.
Good "Just more practice" and more practice.
Enough equipment readily available to officers. Not enough radios.
Widespread failure of electricity service making notification of impending danger far more
difficult.
Looters -other possible criminal activities.
More streams and heavy water flowing into what has already occurred.
Power or telephone failures.
Thorpe failure.
Locals helping and under whose authorization etc Also, after effects or stress.
Power failure,
More unexpected occurrences such as: equipment failure, bad radio transmissions, etc.
Thorpe failure or explosion.

same.
What if communications are lost, roads or routes counted on are blocked by slides.
Involve the media more.
Put in the problem, the roads that are closed to transportation .
Loss of phone systems. Problems given to departments that do not ordinarily handle the
More radios and phones.
Dam leak.
More Media play, (pressure).
Phone numbers for up-to-date information for citizens.
Communications failure, equipment failures ie. gate hoists, operator's trucks, etc.
All other creeks should also be added to the problem. Phone and power should go down.
Perhaps more on communications, i.e., should specific communications fail - What
alternate methods/or frequencies could be used.
Loss of communication (telephone) among local agencies.
Have the exercise go faster and make it more stressful.
7. Please acid any other comments or criticisms on the back of this sheet.
Due to communication loss more 2 way communication (walkie-talkie) or emergency
communication should be thought of.
Over all excellent.
A good exercise over all.
Much better than exercise of a few years ago. One of the best I've attended.
Good Exercise.
One of the better exercises that I have participated in.
Please allow us to be more involved in planning of exercise. Wish to have more
information when coming in to evaluate.

The telephone system was especially good. Much better than paper slips. Lunch was
excellent.
Have a network computer system for the EOCs to communicate back and forth with.
Knew in this exercise what the outcome was - knew progress of flood hour by hour from
hour 60. Next time maybe reveal conditions as rest progresses, v nich might be closer to reality in
that it will not be known, hour to hour what is coming next.
Thumbs up NP&L! If - and I hope "if' is as far as this ever goes - If this ever happens
these exercises WILL SAVE LIVES!!! ONE QUESTION: Has personal interest (concern for
one's own family) been factored in7
Instruct participants to respond only after being notified of situation - not by reading
scenario. Also, information passed along and responded to , should be that from notification.
Great food and facilities at WCU!

CEDAR CLIF< cm" RGENCY
ACTION PLAN TEST PARTICIPANTS
as of 94/12/12 06:26
LASTNAME
FSTNANE
_ ORGHAME
ORGJOB
ORGCITY
ORGPHONE
Alexander
Fred
Nantahala Power & Light
Manager of Corporate
Franklin
369-4534
Company
Communications
Arvey
Carl
Bryson City Police
Chief
Bryson City
Department
Arvey
Jim
N.C. Depart of
Sylva
Transportation
Ashe
Denver
Canada VFD
Chief
Sylva
Ashe
Keith
Cullowhee VFD
Chief
Cullowhee
Baird
Jack
Macon County Emergency
Emergency Management
Franklin
524-6421
Management
Coordinator .
Baker
Sam
National Weather Service
Preparedness Meterologist
Greer
803-848-1332
Ballard
David
Alabama Power
Hydro Group Supervisor
Birmingham
Bennett
Riley
Transylvania County
Emergency Management
Brevard
Emergency Management
Coordinator
Blevens
Ken
GTE
Sylva
586-4066
Breedlove
David
Swain County VFD
Bryson City
Brooks
Winfred
Nantahala Power and Light
Area Manager
Bryson. City
488-2116
Bryson
Thad
N.C. Emergency
Area F Coordinator
Asheville
251-6152
Management
Burris
Edward
N.C. Highway Patrol
Station Chief
Bryson City
488-2184
Burris
Steve
National Weather Service
Greer
803-848-1332
Bynum
Tex
Macon County Civil Air
Captain
Sylva
386-3566
Patrol
Cable
Linda
Swain County
County Manager
Bryson City
488-9273
Carpenter
Burlin
Alarka VFD
Bryson City
Childress
Tony
WRGC 680
Station Manager
Sylva
586-2221/4858
Clawson
Donald
Jackson Emergency
Coordinator
Sylva
586-4055
Management
Clayton
Chuck
Cherokee County Emergency
Emergency Management
Murphy
Management
Coordinator
Page 1

CEDAR CLIF :RGENCY ACTION PLAN TEST PARTICIPANTS
as of 94/12/12 06:26
LASTNAME
FSTNAME
ORGNAME
ORGJ08
ORGCITY
ORGPHONE
Clemmons
Mickey
N.C. Wildlife Resources
Fisheries Biologist
Waynesville
Commission
Comrie
Andrew
Western Carolina
Qullowhee
227-7442
University
Conley
Richard
Nantahala Power and Light
Plant Superintendent
Tuckasegee
Company
Cordell
W.H.
N.C. Wildlife Resources
Regional Enforcement
Waynesville
452-0422
Commission
Officer
Coward
Dean
Balsam, Willets, Ochre
Chief
Sviva
VFD
Crisp
Lewis
Swain Emergency Medical
EMS Coordinator
Bryson City
488-3815
Services
Crisp
Robert
Federal Energy Regulatory
Atlanta
404-452-2364
Commission
Crowe
Carol
Cherokee indi.an Hospital
Cherokee
Cruzan
Jim
Jackson County Sheriffs
Sheriff
Sylva
586-2458
Department
Dickey
Tony
N.C. State Patrol
State Trooper
Bryson City
Dillard
Arthur
N.C. Division of
Sylva
586-4007
Forestry
Dillard
Bill
Jackson Amateur Radio
Emergency Coordinator
Sylva
227-7272
Society
Dillard
Randy
Cashiers -Glenville VFD
Chief
Cashiers
Douthit
Jim
Swain County Rescue Squad
Captain
Bryson City
Douthit
Ron
Swain County Rescue Squad
P.O. Box 606
Bryson City
Duke
Bill
Federal Energy Regulatory
Atlanta
404-452-2364
Commission
Dunlap
Larry
Alabama Power
Senior Engineer
cirmingham
Flury
Steve
Western Carolina
Cullowhee
227-7442
University
Frady
Bill
Cullowhee VFD
Training Officer
Sylva
586-6406
Gallman
Bill
Macon Civil Air Patrol
Captain
Franklin
524-8827
Paue 2

CEDAR CLI IERGENCY ACTION PLAN TEST PARTICIPANTS
as of 94/12/12 06:26
LASTNAME
FSTNAME
ORGNAME
ORGJOB
ORGCITY
ORGPHONE
Garrison
Robert
Nantahala Power and Light
Thorpe Plant
Tuckasegee
293-5137
Company
Gee
Danny
N.C. Emergency
Area Planner
Asheville
251-6152
Management.
Gibson
Vance
N.C. Wildlife Resources
Enforcement Officer
Waynesville
452-0422
commission
Green
Lloyd
N.C. Division of
Sylva
586-4007
Forestry
Green
Tim
Cullowhee VFD
Chief
Cullowhee
Gregory
Randy
Town of Bryson City
Town hanager
Bryson City
488-3335
Haner
Max
N.C. Dept of Environment
Hazardous Materials
Asheville
Haskell
Tammy
Western Carolina
Continuing Education
Cullowhee
227-7397
University
Dept.
Haynes
David
Distinctive Design
IFLOW Computer System
Leichester
683-IS66
Hempnill
Carroll
McDowell County Emergency
Emergency Management
Manaaement
Coordinator
Henderson
Randel
Glenville -Cashiers Rescue
Captain
Cashiers
Squad
Hinson
Rodney
National Weather Service
Forecaster
Greer
603-846-1332
Hoggle
Tommy
Alabama Power
Hydro Plant
Birmingham
Superintendent
Hollifield
Roger
Rutherford County
Emergency Management
Emergency Management
Coordinator
Hooper
Georoe
Jackson County Board of
Commissioner
Tuckasegee
586-2416
Commissioners
Hooper
Sandra
Nantahala Power and Light
Secretary to President
Franklin
524-2121
Company
Hotaling
Lynn
Sylva Herald
Reporter
Sylva
566-2500
Hunt
Bill
Piedmont Olsen Hensley
Project Engineer
Chattanooga
615-756-7193
Hyatt
David
Emergency Management
Emergency Management
Bryson City
488-9273
Coordinator
Hyatt
Don
Federal Energy Regulatory
Atlanta
404-452-2364
Page 3

CEDAR CLIF :RGENCY ACTION PLAN TEST PARTICIPANTS
as of 94/12/12 06:26
LASTNAME
FSTNAME
ORGNAME
ORGJOB
ORGCITY
ORGPHONE
Hyatt
Don
Commission
Hyder
Rocky
Henderson County
Emergency Management
Hendersonville
Emergency Management
Coordinator
Johnson
Noah
Nantahala Power and light
Plant Superintendent
Topton
Company
Jones
Dave
GTE
District Manager
Franklin
524-8338
King
Jerry
Tuc,:asegee Water & Sewer
Administrator
Sylva
Authority
Kina_
Tom
Western Carolina
Cullowhee
221-1442
University
Lanear
Lorenzo
Alabama Power
Plant Guard
Birmingham
Lawson
Pete
Smoky Mountain Times
Editor
Bryson City
488-21899
Lee
Larry
National Weather Service
Science and Operations
Greet'
603-848-1332
Officer
Lewis
Bill
Swain County Board of
Chairman
Bryson City
488-9273
Commissioners
Lewis
Ray
Jackson County Sheriffs
Sylva
Department
Lewis
T. C.
Jackson County Board of
Chairman
Sylva
586-2051
Commissioners
Lynch
Joe
Alcoa
Knoxville
Lynch
Joe
Tapoco Inc.
Mabry
Keith
N.C. National Guard
Asheville
271-5003
Manware
William
Western Carolina
Cullowhee
227-7442
University
Martin
F. D.
N.C. Department of
Division Engineer
Sylva
586-2141
Transportation
McAbee
Gene
Western Carolina
Public Safetyf
Cullowhee
University
McConnell
Doug
N.C. Department of
Division Safety Officer
Sylva
Transportation
Mc Falls
Joe
Cullowhee VFD
P.O. Box 2226
Cullowhee
243-5608
Page 4

CEDAR CLIf ERGENCY
ACTION PLAN TEST PARTICIPANTS
as of
94/12/12 06:26
LASTNAME
FSTNAME
ORGNAME
ORGJOB
ORGCITY
ORGPHONE
McMahan
Stan
Sylva VFD
Chief
Sviva
McRae
Barbara
Nantahala Power & Light
Coordinator of Marketing
Franklin
369-4525
Services
Melton
Kenny
Jackson County Rescue
P.O. Box 158
Sylva
Squad
Moody Jr.
Reg
Jackson Emergency Medical
EMS Coordinator
Sylva
Services
Moody Sr.
Reginald
Town of Dillsboro
Alderman
Diilsboro
586-1439
Moore
Hank
National Weather Service
Fletcher
684-4494
Moss
Arlie
N.C. Division of
Sylva
586-4007
Forestry
Myers
James
Town of Bryson City
Mayor
Bryson City
Naglie
Steve
National Weather Service
Greer
803-848-1332
Nicholson
JoAnn
Jackson County Emergency
Sylva
Nolan
Herbert
Town of Dillsboro
Town Clerk
Diilsboro
586-1439
Norton
Ed
Jackson County Emergency
Sylva
Management
O'Dell
Annette
Nantahala Power & Light
Corporate Communications
Franklin
369-4539
Company
Ogle
Bob
Swain County Sheriffs
Sheriff
Bryson City
488-2197
Office
Oliver
Brenda
Town of Sylva
Mayor
Sylva
586 2719
Oxendine
Bob
Tapoco, Inc.
Robbinsville
Oxendine
Herbert
N.C. Department of
Safety Consultant
Sylva
Transportation
Pelissier
Joe
National Weather Service
Meteorologist in Charge
Greer
803-848-1332
Pettigrew
8i11
Jackson County Rescue
Captain
Sylva
Squad
Phillips
Richard
N.C. Dept of Environment Regional Engineer, Land
Asheville
251-6208
Quality
Polk
Julian
Tapoco. Inc.
Vice President
Alcoa
615-977-3327
Page 5

CEDAR CLIFF ",..,,..ENCY
ACTION PLAN TEST PARTICIPANTS
as of 94/12/12 06:26
LASTNAME
FSTNAME
ORGHAME
ORGJOB
_ ORGCITY _
ORGPHONE
—
Ramsey
Jimmie
N.C. Emergency Managment
Area Trainer
Asheville
251-6152
Reed
Doua_
Western Carolina
Public information
Cullowhee
227-7327
University
Director
Rice
Arlene
Jackson County Emergency
8 Ridgeway Rd
Sylva
586-4055
Management
Rice
Jimmy
Polk County Emergency
Emergency Management
Management
Coorainator
Ross
Margaret
Harris Regional Hospital
59 Hospital Road
Sylva
586-7467
Schawer
Jimmy
Alabama Power
Hydro Plant Specialist
Birmingham
Schlagle
Don
Harris Regional Hospital
Sylva
586-7467
Scott
Bob
Asheville Citizen Times
Franklin
524-2849
Seal
Joe
Swain County Hospital
Administrator
Bryson City
488-2155
Sellers
Kevin
Jackson County Emergency
8 Ridgeway Rd
Sylva
586-4055
Management
Sitton
Barbara
Town of Webster
Mayor
Webster
Slaughter
Terry
Graham County Emergency
Emergency Management
Robbinsville
Management
Coordinator
Smitherman
Tom
Nantahala Power and Light
VP, Production,
Franklin
369-4550
Transmission, &
Distribution
$path
Ron
Federal Energy Regulatory
Atlanta
404-452-2364
Commission
Sweet
George
Hantahala Power and Light
Vice President, Customer
Franklin
524-2121
Co.
& Community Relations
Tanner
Pat
National Weather Service
Greer
803-848-1332
Thompson
Tommy
Town of Sylva
Town Clerk
Sylva
586-2719
Tomko
John
National Weather Service
Greer
803-848-1332
Tucker
Ed
Nantahala Power and Light
President
Franklin
524-2121
Company
Valentine
Mike
N.C. State Patrol
Station Chief
Clyde
627-2851
Wakeley
John
Western Carolina
Chancellor
Cullowhee
227-7100
Page 6

CEDAR CLIFF ;ENCY ACTION PLAN TEST PARTICIPANTS
as of 94/12/12 06:26
LASTNAME
FSTNAME
ORGNAME
ORGJOB
ORGCITY
ORGPHONE
_
_
Wakeley
John
University
Waldroop
Eddie
Tapoco, Inc.
Robbinsville
Walker
Toni
W8HH 1590
News Director
Bryson City
488-2682
Ward
Carl
Jackson Civil Air Patrol
Captain
Cullowhee
Ward
Jean
Jackson Amateur Radio
Emergency Coordinator
Cullowhee
586-6111
Society
West
Mark
Nantahala Power and Lia_ht
Vice President, Customer
Franklin
524-2121
Company
Services
White
Paul
N.C. Dept of Environment
Hazardous Materials
Asheville
Wilkie
Frank
Nantahala Power and Light
Sylva Area Manager
Sylva
Company
Wilson
W. Wade
Town of Dillsboro
Mayor
Dillsboro
586-1439
Winchester
Ervin
West Swain VFD
Chief
Bryson City
Wood
Millie
Jackson County Emergency
B Ridgeway Rd
Sylva
586-4055
Management
Woodard
Darrell
Savannah VFD
Chief
Sylva
Young
Frank
Jackson Amateur Radio
Emergency Coordinator
Cullowhee
293-9673
Society
Page 7

tDisastrous
1940 Flo''o'd
1 _•
n.
le
I •
Ja q1'f;2*'k84
® ecou
By.1ferber f Gibson, Jr.
You might say that this story is about 46,
years late., August 40th will be the forty::
sixth anniversary of the most disastrous
flood which ester occurred on the Tucka-
segee River, which river heads .in the
Glenville and Canada sections at the south
end of Jackson'cot ty and flows through
the entire length of',the; county, approxi=
mately 40 miles or more..
In 1940 I, was the Citizen -Times cor-
respondent for Syl4and.Jackson County. .
It had been•raining t'or m-6st of the,week,
and on Thursday and Thursday night,'
August 29th, it became evident to in that '
our area was in for `some High water We
had had a lot of rain;preIviously and :about
two weeks before th's 7'iAasegee had;got
I ten up enough to flood the highway (US 23)
in. the vicinity of -;',the power dam -at'';
Dillsboro: •'In, short,. -:. the ;.ground -was:.
, thoroughly 'saturated
C •. I lived in Sylva where my wife and Ih#;
1 .an apartment in the`hcime of Mrs Dora
Lee. Collins:•.The street`:in.,front of the::
house;' the''
railioad 'and` Scotts `Creek'
! separated"us' front � the, back street - of
Downtown Sylva I c6uld'hear the using
crescendo of the creekind got up two qr
three times during the night to check on
it as the rain continped,to fall.
,::'• About2:30 in the morning I got up and
found •water •was flowing down' the
railroad -I knew that Scotts Creek had
overflowed its bank's`�and the flood was on
Visions of a great:news-story began to
j dance in my head':' The' ,' aper was' real
liberal with its compensation to corres-
day
pondents in those s ;='lo cents per col-
umn inch for ordinary -news and on up to
?a cents for unusual stories — and the way
the water was rising;• I envisioned maybe
top payment. However,.. this was only a
sideline and my first'thought was to'check
on my place of employment, The:'Mead
-Corporation, where I. worked as a clerk in
the main officer ;
When I reached th'e,piant, not over one-
fourth.mile away (i'was .walking as'I did
not own a car) I found Patel Ellis, the.plant
manager, Ed Duckett, the"plant engineer,
and I believe Joe Dietz, the plant chief
electrician, on one'side. of the railroad
i, tracks talking back;abd'forth with Roscoe
Poteet, the mill superintendent, Glen Gold=
man, the night pap .r'mill superintendentT
j and Charlie 'Smith;head mechanic,
who were over on ,the'paper milf side,
. There was .a virtual• river `running, down
the tracks. The plant`had been shut down
• at 11 o'clock due to wat&- in the rna' hive
It was apparenf that we couldn't do
anything so Paul, Ed and I went over to
the plant office.'The rain had stopped by ,
this time and in spite of the fact that the
:,water was up almost to the little porch at
the front of the office (the office was a one-.
' story building), we never dreamed that the
' water would getany higher. It turned out ;
;that we miscalculated for the next morn- ; x:
ing when Raymond Sutton,. the office
manager, came to work he found that the .:
water had risen 15 inches in the office. lie •:'
had a lot of choice words for the "nitwits"
who could have pulled out. the filing
cabinet drawers located on the bottom and
moved them to a higher location. We spent
'• a lot of time during the next two or three
weeks drying out office papers. '
I started back home to go to bed until
daylight, but down in front of the Hooper
IMotor Company, near the end of Main
Street, Frank Watson, Jr., whom we call-
1•ed "Red," and Andy Wilson drove.up.
They told me to get in with them which I
did. We happened to think about Andy's
cousin Dick Wilson and his familywho liv-
ed near the creek bank across from the
Sylva clubhouse. The water was lapping
i at their front porch when Dick came to the
door.
We decided to go to Dillsboro next but.
on the way I suggested that we stop and..
pick up my old buddy Bob Ariail (Col: R.
L. Ariail, U.S.A., Ret. who now lives in Col- '
umbia, S.C.). Bob had been out partying
and had just gotten into bed. When we got'
to Dillsboro, Red started down the lower
street (next to the railroad) and it was cov-
ered in water. His 31 Chevrolet drowned
out and I thought that it was over as far
as our driving was concerned, but he back-
ed it out with the starter, got it cranked up
again and then Red remembered his pigs.
His pig pen (actually his father's, F. I.
Watson, principal of the Sylva High
School) was located along the Tuckasegee
River below Dillsboro. The pig pen was on
somewhat higher ground and the water
had not reached it, but water was flowing
around it on a low place. It was obvious.
that if the pigs were to be saved, someone
was going to have to get wet. Without
hesitation Andy, now the owner of Wilson
Insurance Agency at Sylva, plunged into
the swirling waters once and then again
to retrieve the squealing porkers. I really
admired his bravery but I couldn't bring
myself to make the rescue. Andy must not
of been too proud of his heroic action for
when we were discussing the episode
recently he had forgotten all about it.
room basement.
Herbert Gibson, Jr.
The pigs rescued, we remembered our
friend Bud Hall's (David M. Hall who later
became congressman from the llth '
district) gift shop which he operated in the
Old Mill Inn located right on the Tucka-
segee .below Dillsboro. We went down
there and the water was already up in the
shop and still rising. It was apparent that
there was no hope of saving anything so
we got out in a hurry. I picked up a salt
and pepper set and stuck them in my
pocket. Several weeks later Bud was over
at my apartment Krith some of the boys for.
a poker session and he spied them. "I
know where those came from!" he an-
nounced. "Yeah, that was all we sal-
vaged," I answered.
The next morning the sun came up and
it was a beautiful day. I went up to the of-
fice expecting to go to work, but found
Willie Dee Wilson and some others shovel-
ing out mud. There was no possibility of
any work until the cleanup was finished so
I went down town.
Somewhere I ran into P. A. Donnahoe .
who was heading for Cullowhee to take:
some pictures. PA. operated Donnahoe's
Studio in Sylva. got my camera and went
with him. I had already learned that all .
communications were cut off from Sylva.
My father was the local depot agent and
there was no telegraph wires and I had
found out that there was no telephone
service.

J
As we started up Highway 107 toward
Cullowhee the first thing we saw was the
i Blackwood Lumber Company steam en-
gine with the trestle washed out from
under it. The Tuckasegee and South-
eastern Railway, as it was officially known
and so -appeared in the Official Railway
Guide, had been hauling machinery and.
equipment up to East LaPorte from Sylva.
The T&SE connected with the Southern
Railway at Sylva. '
The aforementioned machinery. and
equipment was for the Morrison-Knudsen
Company which company had the contract
for building the Glenville dam. Construc-
tion on the dam was ordered by the
Aluminum Company of America through
_its subsidiary the Nantahala Power and
Light Company and had begun on July 4th
that year. The Utah Construction Com-
pany had begun construction of the Nan-
tahala dam about the same time. More
electricity was needed at the Alcoa plant
in Tennessee to smelt the aluminum which
was needed as part of the defense buildup
prior'to World War
Anyway, all the debris from the dam
construction was responsible in part for
the destruction of all the bridges on the
Tuckasegee since the flood waters picked
up so much brush, tree limbs, etc., which
caught on the bridges: However, I was
reminded recently by Robert Waters, one
of my neighbors here in the Bent Creek
1 development who was a resident of East
LaPorte in those days, that more than one
million feet of lumber was floated off by
l the flood waters of. Caney Fork Creek
which flowed by the Blackwood Lumber
fCompany mill at East LaPorte. In'view-
ing the picture of the destroyed Cullowhee
bridge he pointed out that there was a lot
1 , of lumber lodged against the remaining
*' portion of the bridge. b1r: Waters' father,
: •.T. D. L. Waters, who died last year,.was
agent for the T&SE railroad:'. .
When P.A. and I got to ttie Snake Hole
Bend section between Sylva and Cull&-
whee we saw a blank space in the tracks
of the railroad where a trestle had been the
night before. The 1940 flood was the end of
the T&SE railroad. • '
At Cullowhee we couldn't believe our
eyes. The large, comparatively -new con-
crete bridge which had spanned the
Tuckasegee was almost gone. Some of the
buildings on our side of the river were gone
and the rest were flooded: The pictures tell
the story of the flood around Cullowhee.
Every bridge on the Tuckasegee was
taken out except the high bridge at Gover-
nor's Island, above Bryson City and the
bridge at Bryson City suffered damage.
I cannot remember all the fatalities but
at least two persons on Caney Fork were
drowned and a man from -Madison coun-
ty who was sleeping in a car near the Glen-
ville construction site was lost and his
body was found in a tree a mile or so down-
stream about two weeks later.. '
Down below Sylva in the Barkers UreeK
and Wilmot sections two or three houses
along the river were floated
Some of the pictures were loaned to me
by Mrs. Louise Mason Thomas, of Sylva,
a daughter of Sheriff Charlie Mason, kill-
ed in the line of duty in 1938. Mrs. Thomas
is a sister-in-law of P. A. Donahoe. The
Donnahoes now live in Florida. Mrs.
Thomas recalled the story of Gudger
Crawford's hat. Gudger's house at Cull-
owhee was flooded and he was worried
about his hat lying on a steamer trunk in
the house. When he was able to reenter the
house following the flood he found that the
trunk had floated all around but his hat
was still parked on the trunk where he had
left it;', .
To those able to remember, the flood of
1940 is an unforgettable event. One unusual
aspect of the flood was the large number
of landslides (called water -spouts by the
natives). One could count as many as
seven looking up toward the Caney Fork
section from Highway 107. As I remember
it, the total rainfall was 11 inches. This
would have been according to the rain -
gauge kept by Prof. Frank .Brown at
Cullowhee:
The North Carolina highway' depart-
ment had a tall order getting the washed-
out roads passable for the traffic which
was to pass over'hem on the way to the
r;ext big event, the dedication c' the Great
Smoky Mountains National lark which
�.' was to take place ' on `Labor Day,
i September 2nd. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt made the dedication speech. I
attended the dedication and my outstan-
ding memories of the dedication are Gov.
I Clyde R. Hoey eating fried chicken from
his box lunch prior to the dedication and
President Roosevelt's remark about our
isolationist Senator Bob Reynolds whom
Roosevelt said wanted to defend the coun-
try with squirrel rifles. '
Sorry about the delay in the story, but
by the time the communications opened up
out of Sylva my flood story wasn't a cur-
rent event any longer.

. Thursday, August 28, 1986
THE SYLVA HERALD AN
THE BLACKWOOD LUMBER COMPANY'S OLD SHEA STEAM ENGINE WAS NORMALITY PARKED EACH
night on the trestle crossing Scotts Creek near the Mead plant In Sylva. The trestle was washed out in the August
30', 1940, flood. The Tuckasegee and Southeastern Railway, which connected with the Southern Railway in Sylva, was
hauling machinery and equipment to East LaPorte for construction of the Glenville dam. The water -stage recorder
800 feet downstream from'Allens Branch showed the creek crested at 8.G1, feet during that flood.
PRIOR TO. THE AUGUST 30 1940,. FLOOD, THE BRIDGE. CROSSING *THE TUCKASEGEE RIVER AT
Cnillsboro was upstream from the dam . Part of the bridge then on the main highway to Franklin is shown in the top ft. Debris is against the powerhouse. All the bridges crossing the Tuckasegee in Jackson county were destroyed
. the flood.

CAPT. WEAVER'S SHELL SERVICE STATION AT DILLSBORO IS PICTURED DURING THE -AUGUST 30,1940,
flood. A portion of the bridge crossing Scotts Creek can be seen. The bridge at that time was on the main highway
to Franklin. Rainbow Florist is currently at the former service station site.

Photos By.' P. ' A. Donnaho. e

RALD
a SEQUON.
Augusit 30, 1990
'aac
A .cane Fork Were
a.rc a .: •
'.. IIy Lynn Ilotaling . Dot Nicholson, now of Glenville, liv- carrying everything before them, down
"Never before in the memory of liv- ed with her parents near Sols Creek, to the solid rock." The Journal also
ing man, or the traditions that have which' is also in the Canada section, reported that in some places there were'
come down from the old settlers or the during the flood. She remembers hear- craters 30 to 40 feet•deep, and that peo-.
Indians, has anything comparable to ing Ethel Luker McCall tell of her ple in those areas said they heard loud
this disaster come to this county, escape. from the water. • . sounds like the discharge of dynamite
The:-,• preceding quote from The "Everybody comments on how dark and water gushed from the earth:
Jackson County Journal's September 5, it was that night," Mrs. Nicholson said.. "Explosions and the roar in the moun-
1940, front page, refers to the incredi "But Ethel always said that there was . tains was said to be deafening. Small
ble damage caused by flooding along alight that guided her and showed her.. branches and creeks assumed the size:;
the Tuckasegee River and some of its, how to find her way to a neighbors. of raging rivers. Sfrea= and slides:
tributaries exactly 50 years ago today.. house." ' crashed down the mountainsides where;
(ThursdaAccording to the September 1, 1940; there had been no streams;" reported
t Mrs. Roxie, Queen ,of Sylva was liv= Asheville Citizen, the McCall house was the Journal on September 5, 1940,
ing at thMost e home of her parents (Mr, and last seen "plunging over a 50-foot of the damage in Canada and:
Mrs. Bud Brown) on Niggerskull Creek waterfall." Caney Fork occurred before daylight. :
in Jackson county's Canada section,on Mrs. Vessie Mathis of Sols Creek was Arthur Moore of Cuilowhee, 'who then ••
August 30, 1910: the other Canada resident who died in lived on Caney Fork near the mouth of
.'.:!"It rained all day, as hard as ever it that flood. The September. 5, 1940,• Sugar Creek, remembers that when he:
/ ,ould: I woke up around midnight when Jackson County Journal reported that looked across the creek that morning:
l heard a roaring sound. I opened the Vessie Mathis, who was hospitalized in he saw that the store and house which
door to look outside; and water poured,: SyIva after he escaped the flood waters; had been located there were gone.
into the house;'.Mrs. Queen said.,.:.',�-- told of a slide and huge quantities of Several localized• areas apparently:
She said that it had rained hard all. water. coming down Pistol Creek and received immense amounts of rainfall
day, 6iit'she and her family were not, carrying his home'away: in a very short tiirie. Some say there:
especially worried and went to bed as":`
s' ;.,: The 'August 30, 1951, Sylva'Herald were "cloudbursts!' while others call:
usual: The noise she. heard was the reports that Mathis "held onto his wife them "waterspouts" but --all who;
water hitting her house: According to 'as long as he could,• then grabbed. remember that night agree that they
Mrs. Queen, a "cloudburst" on the ' something solid and pulled himself happened.
mountain above them sent a.torrerit of from the waters." His wife's body was "The ground gets so saturated with
water towards the creek. The force of found the next morning. water that something has to give,"
}i the water -was so great that it drove a ` Alvin Burrell, who lives near Sols Tobe Clark said. "The soil moves and
poplar log partway through the wall. Creek, remembers that a private dam takes the trees and everything else with
l . The waters swept away her father's on a tributary' of Sols Creek gave way it, leaving just the -bare rock."
barn, and moved heavy rocks which' and sent a rush of water on down . Clark, who lives near East LaPorte'
had been on top of the mountain down toward the main creek which swept the some., distance . back from - the
into their yard, Mrs. Queen said. Mathis house along with it. Tuckasegee River,. remembers the:
1 At least four people from the Canada : "It was pitiful," Burrell said. "Their . hard rains of that night but said that he
area died during that flood, according house was gone. But just a little way didn't know any flooding had occurred
to The Sylva Herald county centennial from where the house had been their: until his father-in-law, Leon Moody,•
T issue published August 30,1951. Albert pie safe was standing upright, just like woke him up that Friday morning and:
r McCall and his two children who lived someone had set it there. All the food said that "nothing' was left on the:
near Niggerskull Creek (Mrs. Queen's '.still looked good. The pickled beans river."
neighbors) drowned in the flood when they'd had for supper were right there According to The Jackson County:
!a tremendous slide struck their house. and so was the cake she'd baked." Journal, every bridge across the;
;V�and swept it away: The force of the . "There was even a ten -dollar bill in Tucl:asegee in Jackson county was:
slide "carried Mrs. McCall across the one of the teacups," Burrell said.."That destroyed.
, raging creek where she caught the top was to pay the granny woman when Clark remembers extensive damage
of a tree and saved herself." their baby came." along -Caney Fork. Caney Fork looked:
The; Jackson.' County Journal of Most reports of that flood indicate "unreal," he said "The course of the..
C " �eptember 5, 1940, reported'that the . that the Canada and Caney Fork sec- creek changed completely during that'
x}y of the.McCalls' 5-year old son was Lions of the county were.hardest hit. Ac- flood.'' ,
-ound on an island near Bryson City. cording to the The Jackson County t "I've seen floods other places where;
rafter.. it'had been carried nearly 60. Journal there were hundreds of places it's flat,". Clark said. "The water rises,;
VRM.Iles, by the flood waters. The bodies in those sections of the county where and then it goes down. But around here'
;of 'McCall and the other child were . "great streaks were stripped down the it's so steep that the water can pick up
ft1never found. • mountainsides from top to bottom, Continued on Page 2B.

2B The Sylva Herald & Ruralite Sylva, NC Thursday, August 30, 1990
Canada, Caney fork Were Hardest Hit By 1940 ]Flood...
Continued from page 1B -
enough force to just wash everything
away,"
Clark and a neighbor built a raft so
they could get across the river and see
what all had happened. "We didn't
have any paddles," Clark said. "We got
as far upstream as we could and look
off."
There were all sorts of rumors going
around that day," Clark said. "People
thought a whole lot of folks had been
washed away up in Canada."
The August 31, 19-10, Asheville Citizen
reported that the flood left Cullowhee
isolated from the rest of the region and
parts of Cullowhee isolated from each
other.. -
Jim Gray, Sylva Herald editor,
remembers that for a while the only
way people in Cullowhee could drive
anywhere was to go out Tilley Creek
and over to Franklin then to Bryson Ci-
ty and back to Sylva. "The bridge in
Bryson City and the bridge at Gover-
nor's Island were the only ones left on
the river•" lie said.
According to the September 12, 1910,
issue of The Jackson County Journal,
a temporary bridge at Cullowhee was
the first bridge over the main
Tuckasegee completed after the flood.
It was opened to traffic on September
10, 1940.
Ayscue Hooper of Tuckasegee was
working on Lake Superior in August,
1940, when he heard that the
Tuckasegee River in Jackson county,
North Carolina, had "gone on a ram-
page." It was several days before he
knew that his family was safe.
Hooper's wife, Gladys, was at home
in Tuckasegee with her three children
and her mother-in-law. Mrs. Hooper
said she didn't worry during the early
part of the evening in spite of the heavy
rains.
"We took in boarders at that time,"
she said. "Men who were working on
the dam up at Glenville. One worked
the midnight shift and had to leave
about 11 p.m. to get to work. As soon
as he went around the curve from our
house he found himself driving in
several feet of water."
"After his car stalled and died, he
waded back to tell us what was happen-
ing," Mrs. Hooper said. "After that we
went out on the porch and saw that the
water was already way up in the field
between the house and the river."
She said that they stayed on the
porch so that they could see what was
going on. A little while after midnight
there was a bright flash as the flood
waters washed away the power poles.
"It lit up the whole valley and all you
could see was water," she said.
Homes and businesses were
destroyed all along the river from
Tuckasegee to Bryson City. The
Asheville Citizen reported at the time
that property damage was estimated at
$500,000 in the Cullowhee area. The
Blackwood Lumber Company's drying
house in East LaPorte washed away
along with several hundred thousand
board feet of lumber.
The Jackson County Journal
reported on September 5,1940, that ac-
cording to the best estimate that could
be made at that time, Jackson county
had suffered around $2 million in
damages.
The Sylva Herald reported in its
August 30, 1951, issue: "East LaPorte
felt the full force of the streams of
Caney Fork and the river. Cullowhee
village on the north side of the river
was almost completely destroyed, and
the destruction along the river at
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*.••■ . �u�a i su, ia'ty, FLOOD DESTROYED THE CONCRETE and Battle's Grocery, which also housed the Cullowhee Post Office. The '
bridge at Culloivhee as well as every other bridge across the Tuckasegee old railroad from Sylva to East LaPorte is seen in front of Battle's Store.
River in Jackson county. Buildings in the background are, from left: The smokestack is on the Western Carolina Univesity campus at the
Robert Brown's house, Robert Brown's store with apartments above, steam plant. The Cullowhee Baptist Church Cemetery is also visible.

•
l' _�<^ ". nC:�'!Jv :S'� ...Lri74K'57.�.Y c �Cl•_ _ -�.r: -- -}y.4\\tti1'lJ
THE AUGUST 30, 1940, FLOOD WAS THE MOST DAMAGING FLOOD EVER RECORDED ON THE
,. Tuckasegee River. Pictured above are the remains of the bridge across the river,at Cullowhee. This photo
was taken from the upstream side of the bridge and shows the debris carried downstream by the river.
Thewater crested at 15 feet above tiie dam in Cullowhee at a flow of almost 60,000 Cubic feet per second
(cfs.). Normal flow at the dam is 580 cfs. This photo was taken from the,'}42yyehutta R`toad side of the river.
With the bridge destroyed, most of Cullowhee was isolated from the rest of the county. Wayne Hooper
remembers that on the morning of August 30 people were shooting r' essages back and forth across the
river with bows and arrows. A temporary bridge at Cullowhee was completed on September 10, 1940. The
flood destroyed every bridge across the Tuckasegee In Jackson county. = Photo Courtesy Of Herbert
Gibson.
r-011MA ltu 4tLI •'iHE AUGLIST 30, 1940, FLOOD CAUSED ABOUT:: MILLION I\ PROPERTY
.f iage throughout Jackson county. Cullowhee Village was hit very turd. The rock;building above was
sty Mashburn's gauge. It is located in Cullowhee on what is now the corner _gf Old N.C. 107, and
arvtyetiutta Road. A second floor has been added since the flood. Upstairs Sound isicurrently in the top
pr of'the building. The house behind is the Junior Gallowa}• house,'=,}s;hich is also still standing. In the
^egroynd are the remains of Victor Brown's ice cream shop. According to R'a}•ne llobper, this was a fair-
�wi w ruck building and the flood destroyed it. — Photo Courtrc}• Or [ erbc�t Gihs'Tn.

THE 1940 FLOOD CAUSED HEAVY DAMAGE TO HOMES AND
.businesses all along the Tuckasegee River. These photos are typical of
Ithe damage in the Cullowhee/East LaPorte area. — Photos Courtesy
Of Herbert Gibson.' '