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Dam Failure

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Dam failure can occur with little warning. Intense storms may produce a flood in a few hours or even minutes for upstream locations. Flash floods occur within six hours of the beginning of heavy rainfall, and dam failure may occur within hours of the first signs of breaching. Other failures and breeches can take much longer to occur, from days to weeks, as a result of debris jams or the accumulation of melting snow. The result of a dam failure is flooding.

Specific information on what to do Before, During and After a Dam Failure can be found at: http://www.ready.gov/floods

To learn more about Dam Safety guidelines, click here.

Additional Resources