National Dam Safety Awareness Day
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Promotes Prevention
Release Date: May 19, 2006
Release Number: R10-06-013
SEATTLE, Wash. -- May 31, 2006 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day. The date marks the 1889 South Fork Dam failure above Johnston, Pennsylvania, the worst dam disaster in United States history. Closer to home in the Pacific Northwest, are the Willow Creek Dam failure which almost destroyed the town of Heppner, Oregon on June 14, 1903 and the June 5, 1976 Teton Dam failure in Idaho. The Teton Dam failure sent 20 billion gallons of water spilling down Teton Canyon towards Willford, Teton, Sugar City, Rexburg, Roberts and Idaho Falls, causing over $2 billion in damages and contributing to the deaths of eleven people. Of over 80,000 dams across the country, 9,000 have been designated by their state as "high hazard dams," but according to FEMA Regional Director John Pennington, a "high hazard" designation has less to do with the strength of the dam than with threats posed to downstream populations if a given dam does fail.
"FEMA doesn't own or regulate dams, but we can serve as an independent adviser on dam safety and disaster plans. Time and again, the lesson driven home from devastating disaster is that there is no substitute for pre-disaster mitigation and pre-disaster planning," said Pennington, whose region includes Alaska , Idaho , Oregon and Washington State . "Dam safety issues can cross local, state and even national borders, and people who live downstream need to be aware of the risks associated with dams, and understand their local government's evacuation plans."
The purpose of National Dam Safety Awareness Day observances is to empower our citizenry as primary stakeholders in safe dams, and to sustain the public's interest in becoming active partners in local emergency action plans.
This year, FEMA is sponsoring two Advanced Technical Seminars on Dam Failure Analysis: July 25-28 at the Wyndham Burlington Hotel in Burlington, Vermont, and October 24-27 at the Marriott City Center in Portland , Oregon (visit: www.damsafety.org/documents/pdf/Advanced 2006 20Flyer.pdf to register). For more information on Dam Safety, visit www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/damfailure/information.shtm.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 19-May-2006 10:28:22