Officials: Dam at Mississippi lake could soon fail, residents urged to evacuate

By Associated Press

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Emergency management officials say heavy rains could cause the failure of a dam in rural northeastern Mississippi.

Officials are urging residents near Oktibbeha County Lake to evacuate. While the evacuation is not mandatory, officials say residents near the dam should relocate to a safer distance.

The number of people affected wasn’t immediately clear. Officials say there are about 130 property addresses in the area.

A two-year Associated Press investigation found that Mississippi has one of the nation’s highest numbers of dams that pose dangers and are in poor or unsatisfactory condition.