Area law enforcement and emergency management agencies are warning drivers to avoid high waters and use caution. Flood warnings are in effect for several counties in East Tennessee. 6 News’ crews and viewers have captured photos of flooding, heavy rain and trees down throughout the region.

Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis first alerted residents to leave the Newport area, roughly 60 miles west of Knoxville, in a post to Facebook just before 3 p.m. EST Friday, writing that the Waterville Dam had "suffered a catastrophic failure.

High waters from both the Pigeon and French Broad rivers has closed several roads and led to evacuations and water rescues.

The NWS canceled the dam break warning after hearing from officials at Duke Energy, who were able to visually inspect the dam and confirm it had not failed.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is claiming that Walters Dam, otherwise known as Waterville Dam, has not failed. TEMA is citing the dam’s owner, Duke Energy. It comes just about an hour after Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis said the dam had suffered a “catastrophic failure.

The mayor of Cocke County declared a state of emergency, and the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Emergency.