Water released by a failed dam generates tremendous energy and can cause a flood that is catastrophic to life and property. A catastrophic dam failure could challenge local response capabilities and require evacuations to save lives.
A levee system failure or overtopping can create severe flooding and high water velocities. It’s important to remember that no levee provides protection from events for which it was not designed.
*Dam and Levee photos courtesy of California Department of Water Resources.
View Sacramento County’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) which outlines a proactive strategy to reduce long-term risks from natural hazards like floods, droughts, and earthquakes.