LAKE OKEECHOBEE, Fla. -- Federal inspectors have taken a close look at the Herbert Hoover Dike and say there are no new areas of concern as Hurricane Matthew approaches the state.
The U.S Army Corps of Engineers completed a full inspection of the 143-mile long earthen structure surrounding Lake Okeechobee on Tuesday.
They reported no new issues or areas of concern since the last inspection conducted two weeks ago on Sept. 20.
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Should issues arise at the dike, the Corps has an emergency action plan in place to mobilize staff and communicate with state and local officials, as well as the public, on the nature of its response actions. Those actions fall into two broad classifications:
• A Watch Condition is declared when a serious issue with dike integrity is discovered. The issue will likely
require emergency repairs and requires continuous monitoring.
• An Evacuation Condition is declared when a breach of the dike is occurring or is imminent. At this point,
focus shifts to ensuring people get to safety.
The Corps will monitor conditions and conduct another inspection of the dike after the storm passes.