Dam Safety Part 2: Know Your Risk

Know your risk.There is something you can do to make a difference in your community’s dam risk resilience.

This second-in-a-series of podcast episodes highlighting dam safety focuses on risk associated with dams. We’re talking about the National Inventory of Dams (NID), an essential component in a community’s understanding of risk and a great pre-planning tool.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is in the process of modernizing the NID, which will include inundation mapping that historically has not been available. Understanding the demographics of the downstream community impacted by a potential dam incident through information available via the NID will play a key role in reducing negative impacts.

We’re also talking about the Collaborative Technical Assistance (CTA) program. FEMA is providing leadership in the development and implementation this initiative which is aimed at providing the tools a community needs to effectively plan for and respond in the event of a dam incident. We’ll discuss CTA’s hands-on work with communities to ensure they know their role when an incident occurs.

And you’ll hear about dam risk management and floodplain management, the High Hazard Potential Dams grant program (HHPD), FEMA’s role in the National Dam Safety Program and key initiatives for FEMA in respect to the management of that program.

Take a listen.

Dam safety is a shared responsibility; know your risk, know your role, know the benefits of dams and take action.

Joining the discussion:

• Cathy Carr Clinch, VP, Civilian Sector, Atkins
•  Ann Terranova, Project Director, Atkins
•  Becky Ragon, Program Manager, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) National Inventory of Dams (NID)
•  James Demby, Dam Safety Program Manager, FEMA
•  Ed Beadenkopf, Dam Safety Subject Matter Expert, Atkins
•  Preston Wilson, Dam Safety Program Engineer, FEMA
•  Diana Castro, Dam Safety Subject Matter Expert, Atkins