FEMA Report on 2020 Michigan Dam Failures Identifies Actions Operators and Communities Can Take for Emergencies

In its just released report on the causes for the Edenville and Sanford Dam failures in 2020, FEMA attributes the chain of events to have been initiated by excessive rainfall and a decade-long history of maintenance and compliance issues.

These factors led to the failure of the Edenville Dam, causing a flood wave that led to the subsequent failure of the Sanford Dam, ten miles downstream. The finding of maintenance and compliance issues complements the conclusions in another recently released report on the dams failures, which was completed by an independent forensic team and published to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) website. That report, which WaterISAC reported on in its May 12 Security & Resilience Update, also attributed the Edenville Dam’s failure to human action, or inaction, saying the conditions that led to the situation “were foreseeable and preventable.” The FEMA report also provides other key insights and lessons for other jurisdictions with dams, which include the importance of examining risk on a watershed scale, conducting planning and exercises, and building relationships between emergency managers and dam operators. FEMA reminds its partners May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day, noting the theme for this year is: “Dam Safety is a shared responsibility. Know your risk, know your role, know the benefits of dams and take action.” It observes the insights from the report can help inform community outreach to promote awareness of dam-related risks and related protective actions. Read the report at FEMA (the report is also posted below).