SECTION 4: RISK ASSESSMENT
Dam failures are of particular concern because the failure of a large dam has the potential to cause more death and destruction than the failure of any other manmade structure. This is because of the destructive power of the flood wave that would be released by the sudden collapse of a large dam. Dams are innately hazardous structures. Failure or poor operation can result in the release of the reservoir contents — this can include water, mine wastes, or agricultural refuse – causing negative impacts upstream or downstream or at locations far from the dam. Negative impacts of primary concern are loss of human life, property damage, lifeline disruption, and environmental damage. Warning Time: 4 – Less than 6 hours Duration: 3 – Less than 1 week Location The North Carolina Dam Inventory, maintained by North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, provides a detailed inventory of all dams in the state. As of July 2018, there are 422 dams in Wake County, of which 204 are rated low hazard, 59 are rated intermediate hazard, and 159 are rated high hazard. Figure 4.2 shows the location of all dams in Wake County. Table 4.13 lists all dams with high hazard potential in the county.
Wake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2019
62
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online