National Dam Safety Awareness Day is May 31

National Dam Safety Awareness Day is held annually on May 31 in remembrance of the 1889 South Fork Dam failure near Johnston, Pennsylvania, the deadliest dam related disaster in US history. Dam Safety Awareness Day is an important reminder of the need to be prepared for any disaster. Through taking steps to be prepared, you can help yourself and your community!

Dams are important infrastructure for the community, providing flood control and drinking water among other functions. The dams in Prince William County are safe and well maintained, however, it is important to know your risk and know how to respond in the event of an emergency at a dam. The best way to be personally prepared is to plan ahead!

We encourage all homeowners and business owners to visit the Dam Inundation Mapper to see if flash flooding from a dam failure could impact their property. Learn more about dam safety and the importance of flood insurance at pwcva.gov/flooding/damsafety.

As always, being informed is an integral part of being prepared. Sign up for emergency notifications at pwcva.gov/alerts!