Things looking better after breach in White Co. dam

CLEVELAND - It was a tense night for some White County residents following a breach in the dam at Wendy Lake, but things are looking better.

White County Fire Chief Dickie Howard said the water level at the dam is now below the washed out hole.

A large hole was reported in the dam at Camp Barney around 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Officials monitored the situation all night and people living within a 6-mile area were notified that they should be prepared to evacuate if necessary.

Howard said that by 10 p.m. one-third of the water in the lake had drained, causing Jenny's Creek to rise 1.5 feet and Town Creek to rise one-half of a foot.

Now Howard said the danger is minimal, and officials at the camp are expected to completely drain the lake and rebuild the dam in the fall.

(Dean Dyer of radio station WRWH in Cleveland contributed to this report).