"Record Flood Stage. This stage last occurred in April of 1791 according to Tennessee Valley Authority records. Catastrophic flooding of the Swannanoa River Valley is likely," the National Water Prediction Service posted on the river gauge's website.

Panicked local officials initially said the Waterville Dam and the Lake Lure Dam had burst, but both were reportedly still holding as of Friday afternoon

More than a foot of rain has fallen across much of the western part of the state. Officials said the highest rainfall total was reported as 29.5 inches in Busick Raws, in Yancey County.