If you notice a new crack, water seepage, or ground movement near a dam, stay clear of the area and report it promptly to the dam owner or operator, or the appropriate dam-safety authority. Do not investigate or try to repair it. If water is escaping uncontrollably or you believe there is an immediate threat, contact local emergency services and follow official instructions.
What to do first
- Move away from the affected area. Do not approach the crack, seep, moving slope, or flowing water to get a closer look. Keep out of restricted areas and do not climb onto the dam or cross unstable ground.
- Report what you saw promptly. Contact the dam owner or operator, or the relevant local, state, or federal dam-safety authority. The right reporting route depends on the dam and its jurisdiction; there is no single reporting number for every site. FEMA’s Pocket Safety Guide for Dams and Impoundments (2016) says: “Report the suspected problem to the appropriate Federal or State agency official and have the situation evaluated by a qualified engineer immediately.” Read the FEMA guide.
- Give a clear description. State the dam’s name or location, where the condition is, what you observed, and when you first noticed it. Mention any change you saw, such as water flow increasing or a slope moving. If you can take a photo from a safe public place without entering a hazardous or restricted area, it may help explain the report; do not put yourself at risk to document it.
- Follow emergency directions. Check official local alerts and any posted or provided emergency-action-plan instructions. If authorities issue an evacuation or other protective action, follow it promptly.
Which signs warrant particular urgency?
A crack or seep by itself does not tell a bystander whether a dam is failing. The significance depends on the actual condition and how it changes, and a qualified professional must evaluate it. FEMA’s emergency-planning examples identify combinations and changes that warrant particular concern for dam personnel:
- New seepage that is cloudy or increasing in flow.
- Cracking associated with seepage.
- A slope slide that begins suddenly or progresses rapidly.
These examples come from FEMA’s Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Emergency Action Planning for Dams (2013); they are not universal thresholds or a public diagnostic checklist. Report what you observe rather than trying to assign an emergency level or determine the cause. Read FEMA’s emergency-action-planning guidance.
Who decides what happens next?
Dam owners and operators are responsible for evaluating reported conditions with qualified professionals. Emergency management officials coordinate with dam owners and operators to choose protective actions for the public. FEMA describes the early response sequence as “incident detection, evaluation, and emergency level determination” in its Emergency Operations Planning: FEMA Dam Incident Planning Guide (2019). The appropriate response and any evacuation instructions are site-specific; follow directions from local authorities and the dam’s official communications. Read FEMA’s Dam Incident Planning Guide.
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