Formulating an Effective Dam‐Break Emergency Action Plan

The format requirements for dam‐break emergency action plans, whether for federal or state government agencies, have common elements that must be addressed before the plan is accepted for implementation. The use of standardized elements in emergency action plans, although meeting the intent of government requirements, can lead to largely ineffective plans if site‐specific concerns are not addressed. These site‐specific concerns include the emergency action plan participants, existing and proposed communication networks, available and necessary emergency supplies, dam location considerations, and the type of dam involved. Failure to adequately address site‐specific concerns could expose the author of the emergency action plan to liability. It is the emergency action plan author's responsibility to look beyond the general plan formats presented by federal and state dam‐safety agencies. The emergency action plan guidelines described in this paper should assist engineers, planners, dam owners, and local government officials in developing and evaluating effective dam‐break emergency action plans.