About EAPs
Samples of Typical Dam Failures
Contrary to popular belief:
Most dam failure fatalities are not the result of large dams failing. They are the result of small dam failures. Dam Failures resulting in fatalities:
- 86% of the fatalities resulted from dams between 20 and 49 feet in height
- 47% of the fatalities resulted from dams with a drainage area less than 2 square miles
- 75 % of the fatalities resulted from dams with a drainage area less than 10 square miles
- 7 dams had less than 300 acre-feet of reservoir storage area
This description fits many of Indiana dams. What is your dam's height and storage?
Several factors influence loss of life from dam failures, and an Emergency Action Plan takes into account and attempts to address each of these:
- Number of people at risk
- Flood depths and velocities
- Time of day or time of year
- Ease of Evacuation
- Timeliness of warnings
Dam failures
A complete dam failure is a nightmare for people, property and the environment. Regular dam inspections and maintenance, and creating an EAP, can help avert and mitigate such nightmare situations. (Photos of dam failures, from slide show Dam Failures)
Dam problems that can lead to failure
These photos illustrate many of the types of dam "incidents" that can rapidly become dam emergencies and trigger an Incident and Emergency Action Plan if not addressed by the dam owner soon enough. Dam owners, neighbors, or passers-by who see these types of problems at a dam should contact the state dam safety officials immediately.
