Living with Dams: Know the Risks

There are more than 90,000 dams across the United States, and many people are not aware that they live near one or more of them.

Could living near a local dam put your home at risk of flooding?

About 27,000 of U.S. dams are at risk of experiencing damage or even a dam failure. And no dam is completely floodproof. That means flood risk is a real threat for properties that are downstream or located below a dam.

Dams can be damaged or fail for a variety of reasons, such as:

• Poor maintenance
• Structural problems
• Not being designed for the severe storms that are increasingly common

Take action to understand your risk and protect the life you've built.

• Find out what dams are located near you at the National Inventory of Dams.
• Use the cost of flooding tool to see how flood damage could impact your finances.
• Understand why flood insurance is so important:
  • Most homeowners and renters insurance does not cover flood damage.
  • Disaster assistance is only available when there is a Presidentially declared disaster - and most floods are not declared disasters.
  • When available, most disaster assistance is in the form of a loan that must be paid back with interest. 
• Talk to your insurance company or agent about your risk and the benefits of flood insurance. If you don't have one, use this locator tool to find a flood insurance provider.