Prepare for Emergencies

Dam failures occur every year in this country. Dams may fail on first filling, after a heavy storm, during maintenance efforts, or suddenly after 100 years of “safe” operation. In an event that may stress your dam (hurricane, heavy rain, earthquake, etc.), an effective and up-to-date Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a critical tool for high and significant hazard dam owners, dam safety officials, and emergency response personnel.

An effective EAP can save lives and protect property. A well prepared EAP will provide details regarding emergency triggers; monitoring of the dam during flood events; incident mitigation methods; communication protocols; incident command duties; and perhaps most importantly, the information necessary to determine where the at-risk population downstream of the dam is located, and how to safely evacuate those persons.

An effective EAP can save lives and protec​t property. A well prepared EAP will provide details regarding emergency triggers; monitoring of the dam during flood events; incident mitigation methods; communication protocols; incident command duties; and perhaps most importantly, the information necessary to determine where the at-risk population downstream of the dam is located, and how to safely evacuate those persons.

Before a Dam Failure or Incident

Know your risk. There are nearly 600 dams located throughout Maryland, and many more smaller dams/ponds. Do you live downstream from a dam? Is the dam a high-hazard or significant-hazard potential dam?

Review the current Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the dam. Owners of High and Significant Hazard Potential dams in Maryland are required to review and update, as necessary, their EAP on an annual basis. The EAPs are developed and maintained by the dam owners, identify potential emergency conditions at a dam, and specify pre-planned actions to be followed to reduce property damage and loss of life. Please contact the dam owner if you have any questions concerning the EAP for a specific dam.

Know your evacuation route should you be told to evacuate.

Review your insurance policy. Flood coverage is not part of most homeowner, mobile home or renter’s insurance policies. There is a 30-day waiting period for coverage to take effect.

During a Dam Failure or Incident

If told to evacuate, secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture and move essential items to an upper floor.

Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves, if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.

Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

After a Dam Failure or Incident

After a flood, listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink.

Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.

Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Even if the roadway of a bridge or elevated highway looks normal, the support structures below may be damaged.

Stay clear of downed power lines and report them to your power company.

Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage, particularly to foundations. Stay out of any building that is surrounded by floodwaters.

Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and other harmful chemicals.​

Emergency Operations Planning: Dam Incident Planning Guide

Federal Guidelines for Emergency Action Planning for Dams  (FEMA P64)