DAM FAILURE CHECKLIST
Emergency Management / Incident Commander
Planning:
 
Ensure dams are inspected regularly by the appropriate agency (i.e. Army Corps of Engineers, Soil Conservation Service, etc.).
Contact the dam owner / operator and obtain a copy of their emergency plan and establish a communication dialog or plan with the owner / operator.
Ensure the public living in the area is kept well informed regarding the hazard.
Coordinate with the dam owner / operator or the Army Corps of Engineers for timely information affecting local jurisdictions, including copies of inundation maps.
Coordinate with schools, daycare centers, hospitals, etc. in proper precautions and emergency actions prior to a potential dam failure, if it is likely to affect such a facility.
Coordinate with local planning boards and inspections departments regarding building codes and code enforcement to minimize damages downstream and ensure vital facilities are not constructed or placed in a potential inundation area.
Coordinate the establishment of local laws to prohibit or minimize construction in known flood plains or near spillways.
Conduct hazard analysis of vital facilities and the impact of a major dam failure on one or more of those facilities.

Coordinate and plan at least one exercise (table top or practical) every six years.
Procure or produce information pamphlets for distribution to the public if appropriate.
Determine the availability of shelters and obtain shelter agreements if the Red Cross (or designated lead agency) has not.
Coordinate with Red Cross, public agencies and/or the Salvation Army for shelter operations.
   
Response:
 
Identify immediate action or response requirements.
Immediately carry out those action requirements necessary to preserve life and/or property, including the deployment of required resources.
Activate the EOC as appropriate.
Organize or establish the EOC, based on operational procedure or guidelines..
Issue alert and warning based on procedure or guideline, as warranted.
Establish communications with responding agencies.
Through communications with responding agencies determine as quickly as possible:
 
The location of any established command post:
  Has incident command been established? If not, establish incident command.
  Has the incident commander been appointed or assumed command? Who is it?
  Have incident communications been fully established?
What is the two way radio frequency being used by incident command?
Number of killed or injured.
General boundary of the affected area.
The general extent of damages.
The general extent of power or other utility disruption.
Immediate needs of response forces.
If voluntary evacuations of the population have begun.
Location of any triage area.
Location of any congregate care area established or ad hoc.
Evaluate overall county situation.
Establish communications with the State.
Establish communications with the dam owner / operator.
Establish communications with US Army Corps of Engineers.
Establish communications with and request a liaison from affected electric, telephone and gas utilities.
Establish ongoing reporting from the response forces services, private agencies and utilities.
Establish command post(s) as needed.
Coordinate with Red Cross (or designated lead agency) the opening of appropriate number of shelters in the appropriate areas, based on shelter procedure or guideline.
On order, evacuate affected areas with assistance from response forces.
Conduct first staff briefing as soon as practical after EOC / Command post activation.
Activate or establish rumor control through the public information officer (PIO).
Establish a schedule for briefings.
Brief city/county/agency/utility executives.
Provide PIO with updated information.
Provide response forces with all updated information, as appropriate.
Cause public information to be released, via the public information officer (PIO) as soon as practical.
Issue action guidance as appropriate.
Establish 24/7 duty roster for the EOC and/or command post.
Develop and post any required maps or diagrams.
Activate an events log.
Review and follow resource procurement procedure or guideline.
Inventory additional resources that may be used or called upon for use.
Activate formal resource request procedure or guideline and resource tracking.
Coordinate all resource requests being forwarded to the State.

Activate financial tracking system coordinated by the Finance Officer.
Activate damage assessment and follow damage assessment procedure or guideline.
Develop a 12 hour incident action plan outlining actions that must be accomplished in the next 12 hours.
Conduct a "second shift" or relieving shift briefing, if you are being relieved.
Discuss with and present to your relief, the incident action plan for the next 12 hours.
   
Recovery:
 
Gather damage assessment information (public, housing, business) from damage assessment teams.
Obtain information from Red Cross (or designated lead agency) regarding number of shelterees and support necessary for continued operation.
Obtain from Red Cross (or designated lead agency) an estimated duration period for continued shelter operations, if any.
Obtain information from the dam owner and/or Army Corps of Engineers regarding safety, etc.
Assess citizen / community needs for individual assistance and/or public assistance if applicable.
Activate local unmet needs committee if appropriate.
Gather financial information from the Finance Officer.
As appropriate gather additional information to include:
 
Personnel that responded and the time involved in the response.
Time sheets or time logs.
Supplies used.
Contracts issued.
Purchase orders issued.
Any other expenditures.
Damages to public buildings, equipment, utilities, etc.
Loss of life or injury of any responder.
Documents regarding economic impact.
Develop or generate reports for the following, as appropriate:
 
FEMA
State
Local elected officials
County/City /Town Managers
Others requiring or requesting reports
Coordinate recovery organizations including federal and state agencies and private or volunteer relief organizations.
Establish donated goods management based on policy and procedure or guideline.
If a Presidential declaration of disaster is made, file "Request for Public Assistance" to apply for assistance as soon as possible with the proper state or federal agency.
Ensure public officials are made aware of the assistance application process, if applicable.
Ensure the general public is made aware, through the public information officer, of the assistance application process, if applicable.
Perform an incident critique as soon as possible with all possible response organizations.
Review agency and self performance.
Review the weaknesses of the plan.
Correct weaknesses.
Implement hazard mitigation or modify hazard mitigation plan accordingly.
Brief elected officials with updated information and disaster recovery progress.
   

*** End Dam Failure Checklist ***
Last updated: May 08, 2008