Dam Failures

  1. Before
  2. During
  3. After

Before a Dam Failure

  • Know your risk. There are more than 50,000 dams located throughout South Carolina. 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. An EAP is a formal document required for all dams regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), or designated as a "High Hazard" or "Significant Hazard" by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Dams designated as "Low Hazard" by DHEC are surveyed every three years. 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.