Are US dams safe now?

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The history of dams is almost as long as the history of mankind. The world's first dam was seen in 3000 BC in what was then Mesopotamia, today known as Jordan. The Java Dam held over 31,000 cubic meters of water and served not only as a reservoir but also for irrigation. Compared to subsequent ancient dams, the JAWA DAM was considered an architectural masterpiece mainly because of the increased safety it provided to the population. The upstream rock embankment behind the wall was an incredibly innovative way to reduce the potential risk of a disaster. Unfortunately, this important safety feature was forgotten for centuries until the modern era.

The Age of Dam Development
Over the course of more than 5,000 years of dam building, the technology has evolved considerably. Egyptians, Asians, Romans, French or British, all cultures have had a hand in the evolution of dams. Moreover, the functions of dams have expanded, as they have come to serve as power generators or flood protection. However, the greatest contribution has been made in the last 100 years, mainly aimed at increasing the safety of the surrounding areas. As always, it had to be preceded by catastrophic disasters.

In 1874, the Mill River Dam in Massachusetts collapsed, killing 138 people, including 43 children under the age of 10. 15 years later, more than 2,200 people from Johnstown, Pennsylvania died when the South Fork Dam failed. The failure of the St. Francis Dam in 1928 was a milestone in the history of dam safety legislation. Dam safety laws were passed by the state of California and its surrounding areas, but unfortunately, most states in the USd hesitate until In 1970, after more than 5 dam failures had occurred with horrific consequences.
Are US dams safe now?
There are currently over 91,575 dams in the United States, but over 65% are privately owned. According to the National Dam Inventory, the average age is greatly inflated at 61 years. Unfortunately, 76% of them pose a potential hazard. Between 2005 and 2013 alone, state dam taiwan telegram data afety programs reported 173 breaches and 587 incidents that would likely have resulted in dam failures without intervention. Over the past decade, nearly 40% of dam failures in the United States were caused by overtopping caused by flooding or hydrology. To ensure the safety of surrounding communities, over 900 dams have been removed since 1990. Safety programs have been adopted in 49 of the 50 states except Alabama. All of these states have adopted emergency plans to minimize negative impacts in the event of a disaster. Early warning of nearby communities in the event of an emergency is most important to save lives and minimize impacts.
Telegrafia emergency alert in case of dam breach
Telegrafia's dam safety solution consists of 3 types of sensor devices that monitor water levels or pressure and indicate any damage. The control center automatically activates a notification or alert when the monitored values ​​​​exceed the limit. Last but not least is our masterpiece, the 4th generation Pavian electronic siren, producing high acoustic pressure over a long distance and broadcasting live voice messages with the highest possible intelligibility. Equipped with advanced auto-diagnostic functions, it is fully operational in extreme conditions, including power outages.
The importance of dams will not diminish in the future. On the contrary, the growing demand for water and energy will highlight their significant impact on modern life. As historical evidence shows, dam design must go hand in hand with safety requirements, and emergency preparedness must be an important feature of every dam in the world.