Your state is helping to protect you from dam failure. State governments regulate 95 percent of the approximately 80,300 dams listed in the National Inventory of Dams (NID).
About 11,800 dams in the United States are classified
Your state is helping to protect you from dam failure. State governments regulate 95 percent of the approximately 80,300 dams listed in the National Inventory of Dams (NID).
About 11,800 dams in the United States are classified as high-hazard potential, meaning that their failure from any means, including a terrorist attack, could result in loss of life, significant property damage, lifeline disruption, and environmental damage. Visit NID to find out if you live in an area at risk from dam failure.
Although State programs vary in the scope of their authority, program activities typically provide for:
- Evaluation of existing dams,
- Review of plans and specifications for dam construction and major repairs,
- Periodic inspections of construction on new and existing dams, and
- Review and approval of Emergency Action Plans.
The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) is the Federal Emergency Management Agencies (FEMA's) primary partner in the National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) and serves as the official voice for state dam safety. To learn more about programs in your state, visit the ASDSO Web site.