As Republicans in the House of Representatives fiddle as America's infrastructure 'burns', there is a dam disaster waiting to happen. Not only have dams in America done a great deal of damage to our environment and wildlife but they are a great threat to entire communities. Failure of certain dams around the country could literally cost thousands of lives.
Not only are dams in a weaken state but they could become prime targets of terrorists in America.
Ironically, thousands of Americans could be put to work removing unnecessary dams, rebuilding weaken dams and providing security against terrorism for vulnerable dams.
Look at the facts summarized by Center for American Progress:
-More than 28,000 dams—about one-third of all dams in the United States—are already more than 50 years old, the standard intended lifespan of most dams. -By 2030 more than 70 percent of dams are expected to be at least 50 years old. -About 14,000 dams across the country are classified as “high-hazard” dams, meaning a dam failure or operational error could result in the loss of human life. -In 2008 more than 2,000 of these high-hazard dams were also rated structurally “deficient,” meaning they were at serious risk of failure.
American history is dotted with dam failures and some of the biggest loss of life from a disaster has come from such failures. The Johnstown South Fork Dam failure of 1889 killed 2,209 people which makes it one of the most deadly disasters in United States history. In 1928, the collapse of the St. Francis Dam in Los Angeles County killed over six hundred people.
Hazardous dams are perched above a number of highly populated areas with many of them over fifty years of age. For example, the Salt Lake City area alone has eight unsafe dams above it.
If Congress doesn't soon start dealing with our infrastructure, the deaths and destruction will certainly take place by a dam failure will totally be their responsibility.
(Click on chart to make larger)