ASDSO Stresses Safety of Dams and Safety at Dams
May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day. On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam failed, sending a deadly rush of water and debris into the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Commonly known as the Johnstown Flood, the disaster destroyed much of the city and took the lives of more than 2,200 people. Caused by human error and indifference, it is one of the worst human tragedies experienced in U.S. history. The upcoming anniversary of another landmark, tragic dam failure echoes the need to learn lessons from history. On June 5, 1976, Teton Dam in Idaho broke, inundating over 300…