Update given on Charmaine Dam

The Charmaine Dam has been closed to traffic following the flooding two weeks ago. CHRIS EDWARDS | TCB

By Chris Edwards
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IVANHOE –  Ivanhoe’s Charmaine Dam was one of the many structures to sustain damage as a result of the heavy storms, which began on April 9 and lasted into the next morning.

Ivanhoe Mayor Skip Blackstone announced that, out of caution, the city was closing the dam to all traffic until an engineer team can inspect it for safety purposes.

Blackstone said the spillway valve to the dam has been opened to take pressure off of the structure while it is being evaluated.

He said at last Thursday’s regular meeting of the Ivanhoe City Council that the city was developing a plan to address the voids in the dam prior to the catastrophic weather events two weeks ago that affected the entire county.

Radar equipment used on the dam had revealed numerous voids, and the valve was open prior to the floods, in anticipation, he said.

Blackstone declared an emergency on Wednesday for the city, as many roadways in Ivanhoe were rendered impassible, and many residents were unable to leave their homes or the city.

That declaration is good for seven days from its issuance, unless the city council votes to uphold it.

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Blackstone said the valve at Charmaine will remain open to keep the water level down until the inspection occurs.

Abbott signed a proclamation of disaster on Monday for counties in the region affected by the flooding, including Tyler County.

Residents have 30 days from the April 15 date to complete damage assessments and submit the damage reports to the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) via the agency’s website, damage.texas.tdem.gov.

The county’s OEM notified residents that representatives from TDEM are in the county this week doing damage assessments, as well.

Story about the Ivanhoe Charmaine Dam goes here. Word count not to exceed 465 words. Insert comments from Mayor Skip Blackstone….blah blah blah

Widespread flooding last Wednesday caused damage to property, and a widespread disaster declaration, issued by Gov. Greg Abbott.

Heavy storms, which began on Tuesday, April 9 and lasted into Wednesday morning, ended up with as much as 13 inches of rain reported in parts of the region. According to the county’s Office of Emergency Management Coordinator John Settlocker, the county is assessing damages throughout the county.

Settlocker said there have been 17 damage reports received. Several roads were closed on Wednesday, but are now open, as the waters have receded. Many roads, structures and Charmaine Dam in Ivanhoe, are all damaged as a result.

Widespread flooding last Wednesday caused damage to property, and a widespread disaster declaration, issued by Gov. Greg Abbott.