National Dam Safety Awareness Day occurs on May 31st of each year to commemorate the failure of the South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1889. The dam failure resulted in the loss of more than 2,200 lives and was the worst dam failure in the history of the United States.
The collapse of the South Fork Dam was a tragedy and is not an isolated incident. As we observe and reflect on the South Fork Dam tragedy 133 years later, we encourage you to understand the continued importance of dam safety, the roles various parties play, current issues, and why investment in this infrastructure is urgently needed.
In Honor of National Dam Safety Awareness Day, we encourage everyone to:
1. Learn about the dams in Oklahoma and the United States
2. Learn about “hazard creep” at dams
- ASDSO Failure Modes Series: Hazard Creep at Dams
- ASDSO Lessons Learned: The Hazard Potential Classification of a Dam Can Change Over Time
3. Learn about the cost of dam rehabilitation
