WAUKESHA COUNTY — According to the Wisconsin DNR, there are more than 80 dams in Waukesha County, but what happens if one of them fails?
On Tuesday, more than 30 local politicians met for a two-day emergency training on dam construction in Waukesha to better prepare for a dam failure.
Kaylee Starall
“We asked the program to work with the dam owners. Many of our residents live below dams and may not even know it,” said Peter Jensen, leader of the Southeast Wisconsin Incident Management Team.
Jensen said that like any other infrastructure, dams require regular maintenance.
Hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Dam Safety Program, the training is a two-day course that teaches local leaders how to best ensure dam safety using the latest tools and technologies.
According to the Wisconsin DNR, there are more than 80 dams in Waukesha County.
Jensen said many of the dams were built in the 19th century and are well over 100 years old.
In the last 20 years, 34 dams have failed in Wisconsin, according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.
Waukesha County Emergency Management Coordinator Gail Goodchild said this was a necessary precautionary measure.
Kaylee Starall
“The biggest threat to us here in Waukesha County is flooding,” Goodchild said.
“We have seen basements flooded, people unable to enter their homes and businesses potentially having to close for a few months.”
Timothy Bush, FEMA program manager and training specialist, planned the course for months.
Kaylee Starall
“Dams and waterways are designed for protection and recreation, but they carry a hidden risk,” Bush said. “If we don’t educate the public, we won’t know what to do in an emergency.”
DNR dam safety personnel, emergency managers and responders, dam owners and operators, meteorologists and engineers from across the state came together for the training program.
The team urged the public to think ahead and keep weather alerts switched on at all times.
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