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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - Public safety crisis: Budget cuts may cause US dams to fail
Across the nation, dams are deteriorating while the storms pounding against them grow stronger and more frequent. The result: A growing number of disasters and an unacceptable level of flood risk for downstream communities. Lives, homes and livelihoods hang in the balance, even as dam safety oversight and funding are being eliminated in the current Congress. May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day — a moment to remember the people who have died in dam failures and to urge action to ensure no more lives are lost in unnecessary and avoidable catastrophes. It should also be a wake-up call. The threat is not theoretical, it is reality. And the harsh reality is, it is getting worse and our elected leaders have yet to respond. There are more than half a million dams obstructing rivers and streams in all 50 states and in almost every community. Ownership and associated liability in the event of dam-breaks spans private owners, localities, states and the federal government, which controls some of the largest and most dangerous dams. Dams are infrastructure, and infrastructure fails. When dams fail, a wall of water surges downstream, destroying everything in its path. In the U.S. alone, thousands have died from dam failures. Even low head dams — smaller dams that typically have water continuously flowing over the dam crest — can be deadly, having entrapped and drowned 1,400 people in their hydraulic churn over the years. Dam failures are not tragedies of the distant past. Nearly 80 percent of emergency incidents and dam failures have occurred in the last 20 years. In 2019, for example, the Spencer Dam in Nebraska failed during a winter storm and drowned a man. Just last year the Rapidan Dam in Minnesota failed during a flood, swallowing a riverside home. The dam was known to be in a state of disrepair, and the dam owner had been weighing the decision to repair or remove the structure. Hurricane Helene, which dumped an unprecedented amount of rainfall onto the Southeast, pushed dams beyond their limit. Dozens of state-regulated dams failed or were severely damaged in record-breaking flooding. Many others were further degraded — leaving them compromised as the 2025 hurricane season begins. The majority of our nation's dams are beyond their design lifespan. With the average age across the nation surpassing six decades, it should be unsurprising that they were not built to withstand the storm and flood intensities that we are seeing now. Many are accidents just waiting to happen, especially as the funding and staff that maintain or upgrade these antiquated structures are being cut. The U.S. has put far too little investment into fixing this underappreciated public safety crisis, leading the American Society of Civil Engineers to give our dams a grade of D+. And a failing grade may well be around the corner. In the last two years, Congress has made major cuts to dam safety programs at dam-owning agencies and massive cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Dam Safety Program funding. This program provides critical support to state dam safety offices and for dam owners voluntarily seeking to repair or remove dams with high hazard potential. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 provided an influx of funds, but more than half of those dedicated funds were subsequently cut in the 2024 and 2025 spending bills. Restoring and sustaining sufficient funding and staffing to the FEMA National Dam Safety Program is crucial to addressing the dam safety crisis. Lack of funding will leave communities, regardless of who they voted for, having to pay the price when dams break. At the state level, dam safety offices need the staffing, funding and programmatic infrastructure to hold dam owners responsible for the safety of their dams. Loopholes that allow some dam owners — even those owning high-hazard dams — to avoid safety regulation, must be closed. Unsafe dams that are not serving a critical purpose should be removed, and funding should be made available to support those removals. It is currently estimated that it would cost $165 billion to rehabilitate all non-federal dams. The longer dams are allowed to deteriorate, the higher that price tag grows. However, as the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. More than half of dams on the landscape are obsolete, no longer serving the purpose they were built to provide. An investment to remove them instead of patching them up for another day may be a cost-efficient way of eliminating safety risks and expediently restoring water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. Our nation's outdated 20th Century dams are buckling under 21st century weather extremes. They are quickly becoming ticking time bombs without the budget to diffuse them. This is not just an infrastructure issue — it is a public safety emergency. And Congress is on the verge of failing its most basic responsibility: to protect the American people. Members of Congress need to put public safety first and approve dedicated funding for the regular upkeep, rehabilitation and removal of dams. Tom Kiernan is president and CEO of American Rivers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Public safety crisis: Budget cuts may cause US dams to fail
Across the nation, dams are deteriorating while the storms pounding against them grow stronger and more frequent. The result: A growing number of disasters and an unacceptable level of flood risk for downstream communities. Lives, homes and livelihoods hang in the balance, even as dam safety oversight and funding are being eliminated in the current Congress. May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day — a moment to remember the people who have died in dam failures and to urge action to ensure no more lives are lost in unnecessary and avoidable catastrophes. It should also be a wake-up call. The threat is not theoretical, it is reality. And the harsh reality is, it is getting worse and our elected leaders have yet to respond. There are more than half a million dams obstructing rivers and streams in all 50 states and in almost every community. Ownership and associated liability in the event of dam-breaks spans private owners, localities, states and the federal government, which controls some of the largest and most dangerous dams. Dams are infrastructure, and infrastructure fails. When dams fail, a wall of water surges downstream, destroying everything in its path. In the U.S. alone, thousands have died from dam failures. Even low head dams — smaller dams that typically have water continuously flowing over the dam crest — can be deadly, having entrapped and drowned 1,400 people in their hydraulic churn over the years. Dam failures are not tragedies of the distant past. Nearly 80 percent of emergency incidents and dam failures have occurred in the last 20 years. In 2019, for example, the Spencer Dam in Nebraska failed during a winter storm and drowned a man. Just last year the Rapidan Dam in Minnesota failed during a flood, swallowing a riverside home. The dam was known to be in a state of disrepair, and the dam owner had been weighing the decision to repair or remove the structure. Hurricane Helene, which dumped an unprecedented amount of rainfall onto the Southeast, pushed dams beyond their limit. Dozens of state-regulated dams failed or were severely damaged in record-breaking flooding. Many others were further degraded — leaving them compromised as the 2025 hurricane season begins. The majority of our nation's dams are beyond their design lifespan. With the average age across the nation surpassing six decades, it should be unsurprising that they were not built to withstand the storm and flood intensities that we are seeing now. Many are accidents just waiting to happen, especially as the funding and staff that maintain or upgrade these antiquated structures are being cut. The U.S. has put far too little investment into fixing this underappreciated public safety crisis, leading the American Society of Civil Engineers to give our dams a grade of D+. And a failing grade may well be around the corner. In the last two years, Congress has made major cuts to dam safety programs at dam-owning agencies and massive cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Dam Safety Program funding. This program provides critical support to state dam safety offices and for dam owners voluntarily seeking to repair or remove dams with high hazard potential. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 provided an influx of funds, but more than half of those dedicated funds were subsequently cut in the 2024 and 2025 spending bills. Restoring and sustaining sufficient funding and staffing to the FEMA National Dam Safety Program is crucial to addressing the dam safety crisis. Lack of funding will leave communities, regardless of who they voted for, having to pay the price when dams break. At the state level, dam safety offices need the staffing, funding and programmatic infrastructure to hold dam owners responsible for the safety of their dams. Loopholes that allow some dam owners — even those owning high-hazard dams — to avoid safety regulation, must be closed. Unsafe dams that are not serving a critical purpose should be removed, and funding should be made available to support those removals. It is currently estimated that it would cost $165 billion to rehabilitate all non-federal dams. The longer dams are allowed to deteriorate, the higher that price tag grows. However, as the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. More than half of dams on the landscape are obsolete, no longer serving the purpose they were built to provide. An investment to remove them instead of patching them up for another day may be a cost-efficient way of eliminating safety risks and expediently restoring water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. Our nation's outdated 20th Century dams are buckling under 21st century weather extremes. They are quickly becoming ticking time bombs without the budget to diffuse them. This is not just an infrastructure issue — it is a public safety emergency. And Congress is on the verge of failing its most basic responsibility: to protect the American people. Members of Congress need to put public safety first and approve dedicated funding for the regular upkeep, rehabilitation and removal of dams. Tom Kiernan is president and CEO of American Rivers.
National Observer
5 days ago
- Climate
- National Observer
Saskatchewan premier declares state of emergency as thousands flee wildfires
Saskatchewan declared a province-wide state of emergency Thursday in its fight against rampaging wildfires that have forced thousands to flee. The declaration by Premier Scott Moe came one day after his Manitoba counterpart, Wab Kinew, did the same. 'It's a very serious situation that we're faced with,' Moe told a news conference in Prince Albert. 'We do need some rainfall. We need that sooner rather than later, and in light of that not being in the forecast, we most certainly are putting in place every measure possible to prepare the province.' The emergency declaration makes it easier for different levels of government to battle the fires, which have forced more than 4,000 residents from their homes, mainly in Saskatchewan's remote northeast region. The declaration is set for 30 days but can be extended. Moe said he has not asked the federal government for assistance but may do so in the days ahead. Federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski, on social media, said she was monitoring the fires and planned to meet with Saskatchewan Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod. The hardest-hit area is in Pelican Narrows near the Manitoba boundary, where more than 2,000 residents have been forced to flee. In Manitoba, Kinew made the emergency declaration as fires forced 17,000 people to escape to safety, including all 5,000 residents of the city of Flin Flon. The rest are coming from remote western and northern regions, including First Nations. Kinew has asked the federal government for help from the military and Prime Minister Mark Carney said they will assist. Manitoba is getting whipsawed in fighting the fire, battling not only the flames but also in finding a place for evacuees to go. Kinew has said hotels are already filled with other evacuees and conventiongoers. Winnipeg has opened recreation centres to house evacuees. Early Thursday, there was little to no visible foot traffic at the main evacuation hub at the Billy Mosienko Arena. Security kept media away. One evacuee, Rob Burroughs, said he arrived in the Manitoba capital after a 12-hour drive along a dark highway jammed with cars and trucks from Flin Flon. On a normal day, the drive usually takes seven hours. "We could see (the fire) very well," Burroughs said in an interview. "The wind was in our favour ... but then we were told that the wind was going to change on Wednesday, and it did. "We could see (the fire) perfectly. Red (skies) and lots of black smoke." He said it was a frantic dash to safety. "Some of the residents, like my kids, live right off the perimeter, which is only one and a half kilometres from the fire," Burroughs said. "(First responders) were going door to door, telling them to get out." The other major evacuation locale was 6,700 or so residents of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation. Another 1,700 or so are out from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation. Pimicikamak Chief David Monias told reporters he was expecting better and quicker help from government as his community faced major issues getting to safety. "By the time they sent the planes, only two of the three could land, because the smoke was pretty bad," Monias said. He added that people were also sent south by car to Norway House Cree Nation, where a bottlenecked ferry system left some people waiting up for nine hours without food or other essentials. "Lives are at stake," he said. "It's unacceptable." Kyra Wilson, grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, also said the resources made available to evacuating First Nation communities have been severely lacking. "There should be no delays. There should be no wait times on any request for emergency services,' Wilson said. Moe said Saskatchewan is working with Manitoba to fight the fires and offer support to evacuees. "We are in this together," he said. Flin Flon had to be evacuated under threat of a fire that started Monday over the boundary in Saskatchewan near the town of Creighton. The 1,200 or so residents of Creighton and nearby Denare Beach are also out. That fire is now at 20 square kilometres, menacing both Flin Flon and Creighton from the north. Crews struggled early on to fight the blaze after a drone flew into the fire zone, forcing water bombers to stand down. Federal rules allow for fines and jail terms for anyone flying a drone within nine kilometres of a wildfire without permission. In Creighton, Mayor Bruce Fidler said nearly all of the residents have left. Most are heading south to Nipawin. 'We do have a few people here that we need, our essential workers and firemen,' he said. 'The fire is still threatening the communities, but they're holding it steady." Also Thursday, three Saskatchewan First Nations called for extra resources to fight the fires. The Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Montreal Lake Cree Nation say the fires are boxing in communities and they need help. Fires were also forcing people out of their homes in Alberta. The 1,300 residents of Swan Hills, northwest of Edmonton, were ordered earlier this week to leave ahead of an advancing, wind-whipped fire, estimated to have grown to 71 square kilometres in size. Late Wednesday, a mandatory evacuation was issued for Chipewyan Lake, west of Fort McMurray. Not far away, those living in Red Earth Creek have been ordered to leave, as have residents in Loon Lake, Peerless Lake and Trout Lake. On social media, Premier Danielle Smith said her thoughts are with those who have had to flee. — By Jeremy Simes in Regina, with files from Steve Lambert in Winnipeg, Wolfgang Depner in Victoria, and Aaron Sousa and Jack Farrell in Edmonton.
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- Climate
- The Advertiser
NSW Hunter region declared natural disaster zone from flooding
The entire NSW Hunter region has been declared a nature disaster zone by the state and federal governments, unlocking rapid assistance for those affected. Seven local government areas received the declaration, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock and Upper Hunter The Central Coast and the Mid North Coast LGAs have also been declare disaster zones, including Dungog, Kempsey, Mid Coast, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include: NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the NSW government was activating a range of basic support to assist flood impacted communities and councils "We know this is a challenging time for people in many parts of NSW, and we are rolling out these support measures so communities can begin the clean-up and recovery process as soon as possible," Ms Saffin. "We are still in the response phase but the NSW Reconstruction Authority is working closely with the State Emergency Service and partner agencies to ensure a smooth transition to recovery and the delivery of targeted support for our affected communities." Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the floods were "having a huge impact on communities across the Hunter". "From emergency accommodation, to support for small businesses and councils to repair damages - we're ensuring support is available during this event and as communities turn their focus to recovery," Ms McBain said. More information on disaster assistance can be found at and The entire NSW Hunter region has been declared a nature disaster zone by the state and federal governments, unlocking rapid assistance for those affected. Seven local government areas received the declaration, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock and Upper Hunter The Central Coast and the Mid North Coast LGAs have also been declare disaster zones, including Dungog, Kempsey, Mid Coast, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include: NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the NSW government was activating a range of basic support to assist flood impacted communities and councils "We know this is a challenging time for people in many parts of NSW, and we are rolling out these support measures so communities can begin the clean-up and recovery process as soon as possible," Ms Saffin. "We are still in the response phase but the NSW Reconstruction Authority is working closely with the State Emergency Service and partner agencies to ensure a smooth transition to recovery and the delivery of targeted support for our affected communities." Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the floods were "having a huge impact on communities across the Hunter". "From emergency accommodation, to support for small businesses and councils to repair damages - we're ensuring support is available during this event and as communities turn their focus to recovery," Ms McBain said. More information on disaster assistance can be found at and The entire NSW Hunter region has been declared a nature disaster zone by the state and federal governments, unlocking rapid assistance for those affected. Seven local government areas received the declaration, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock and Upper Hunter The Central Coast and the Mid North Coast LGAs have also been declare disaster zones, including Dungog, Kempsey, Mid Coast, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include: NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the NSW government was activating a range of basic support to assist flood impacted communities and councils "We know this is a challenging time for people in many parts of NSW, and we are rolling out these support measures so communities can begin the clean-up and recovery process as soon as possible," Ms Saffin. "We are still in the response phase but the NSW Reconstruction Authority is working closely with the State Emergency Service and partner agencies to ensure a smooth transition to recovery and the delivery of targeted support for our affected communities." Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the floods were "having a huge impact on communities across the Hunter". "From emergency accommodation, to support for small businesses and councils to repair damages - we're ensuring support is available during this event and as communities turn their focus to recovery," Ms McBain said. More information on disaster assistance can be found at and The entire NSW Hunter region has been declared a nature disaster zone by the state and federal governments, unlocking rapid assistance for those affected. Seven local government areas received the declaration, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock and Upper Hunter The Central Coast and the Mid North Coast LGAs have also been declare disaster zones, including Dungog, Kempsey, Mid Coast, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include: NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the NSW government was activating a range of basic support to assist flood impacted communities and councils "We know this is a challenging time for people in many parts of NSW, and we are rolling out these support measures so communities can begin the clean-up and recovery process as soon as possible," Ms Saffin. "We are still in the response phase but the NSW Reconstruction Authority is working closely with the State Emergency Service and partner agencies to ensure a smooth transition to recovery and the delivery of targeted support for our affected communities." Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the floods were "having a huge impact on communities across the Hunter". "From emergency accommodation, to support for small businesses and councils to repair damages - we're ensuring support is available during this event and as communities turn their focus to recovery," Ms McBain said. More information on disaster assistance can be found at and
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- Climate
- The Advertiser
Hunter, Mid North Coast floods declared natural disaster zones
The entire Hunter region and Mid North Coast have been declared natural disaster zones by the state and federal governments, unlocking rapid assistance for those affected. Seven local government areas received the declaration, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock and Upper Hunter The Central Coast and the Mid North Coast LGAs have also been declare disaster zones, including Dungog, Kempsey, Mid Coast, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include: NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the NSW government was activating a range of basic support to assist flood impacted communities and councils "We know this is a challenging time for people in many parts of NSW, and we are rolling out these support measures so communities can begin the clean-up and recovery process as soon as possible," Ms Saffin. "We are still in the response phase but the NSW Reconstruction Authority is working closely with the State Emergency Service and partner agencies to ensure a smooth transition to recovery and the delivery of targeted support for our affected communities." Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the floods were "having a huge impact on communities across the Hunter". "From emergency accommodation, to support for small businesses and councils to repair damages - we're ensuring support is available during this event and as communities turn their focus to recovery," Ms McBain said. More information on disaster assistance can be found at and The entire Hunter region and Mid North Coast have been declared natural disaster zones by the state and federal governments, unlocking rapid assistance for those affected. Seven local government areas received the declaration, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock and Upper Hunter The Central Coast and the Mid North Coast LGAs have also been declare disaster zones, including Dungog, Kempsey, Mid Coast, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include: NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the NSW government was activating a range of basic support to assist flood impacted communities and councils "We know this is a challenging time for people in many parts of NSW, and we are rolling out these support measures so communities can begin the clean-up and recovery process as soon as possible," Ms Saffin. "We are still in the response phase but the NSW Reconstruction Authority is working closely with the State Emergency Service and partner agencies to ensure a smooth transition to recovery and the delivery of targeted support for our affected communities." Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the floods were "having a huge impact on communities across the Hunter". "From emergency accommodation, to support for small businesses and councils to repair damages - we're ensuring support is available during this event and as communities turn their focus to recovery," Ms McBain said. More information on disaster assistance can be found at and The entire Hunter region and Mid North Coast have been declared natural disaster zones by the state and federal governments, unlocking rapid assistance for those affected. Seven local government areas received the declaration, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock and Upper Hunter The Central Coast and the Mid North Coast LGAs have also been declare disaster zones, including Dungog, Kempsey, Mid Coast, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include: NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the NSW government was activating a range of basic support to assist flood impacted communities and councils "We know this is a challenging time for people in many parts of NSW, and we are rolling out these support measures so communities can begin the clean-up and recovery process as soon as possible," Ms Saffin. "We are still in the response phase but the NSW Reconstruction Authority is working closely with the State Emergency Service and partner agencies to ensure a smooth transition to recovery and the delivery of targeted support for our affected communities." Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the floods were "having a huge impact on communities across the Hunter". "From emergency accommodation, to support for small businesses and councils to repair damages - we're ensuring support is available during this event and as communities turn their focus to recovery," Ms McBain said. More information on disaster assistance can be found at and The entire Hunter region and Mid North Coast have been declared natural disaster zones by the state and federal governments, unlocking rapid assistance for those affected. Seven local government areas received the declaration, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock and Upper Hunter The Central Coast and the Mid North Coast LGAs have also been declare disaster zones, including Dungog, Kempsey, Mid Coast, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include: NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the NSW government was activating a range of basic support to assist flood impacted communities and councils "We know this is a challenging time for people in many parts of NSW, and we are rolling out these support measures so communities can begin the clean-up and recovery process as soon as possible," Ms Saffin. "We are still in the response phase but the NSW Reconstruction Authority is working closely with the State Emergency Service and partner agencies to ensure a smooth transition to recovery and the delivery of targeted support for our affected communities." Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the floods were "having a huge impact on communities across the Hunter". "From emergency accommodation, to support for small businesses and councils to repair damages - we're ensuring support is available during this event and as communities turn their focus to recovery," Ms McBain said. More information on disaster assistance can be found at and
