Outdoors Latest Walters hydro plant turns 100: Dam, powerhouse withstood Helene’s onslaught The Walters Powerhouse is six miles below the dam. Hurricane Helene’s torrential rains in September 2024 caused the Pigeon River to surge to record flow that ripped sections of Interstate 40 to shreds, but the nearby Walters Dam, and powerhouse 12 miles below it, withstood the devastating storm with little damage. “The dam was in no way compromised. It functioned perfectly, just like it should.