Pictured is the dam at Holliday Lake State Park in Virginia. Image: Jeff S. Saxman, Department of Conservation and Recreation/Contributed

Governor Glenn Youngkin declared May 31 Dam Safety Awareness Day in Virginia, encouraging individuals and communities to understand the flood risk associated with dam failures and to take actions that increase safety.

This date is also National Dam Safety Awareness Day, commemorating the Great Flood of 1889 in Johnstown, Pa. The flood was caused by a catastrophic failure of South Fork Dam brought on by days of heavy rain and a series of alterations that made the dam vulnerable to overtopping.

Dam failures can cause catastrophic flash floods. These failures may be caused by overtopping from precipitation or flooding, construction deficiencies or structural failure of materials used to build the impoundment.

Aging dams are an issue across the U.S. The Association of State Dam Safety Officials estimates that seven in 10 dams will be 50 years or older by 2025.

There’s more to this in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Support local journalism by purchasing the issue at a local newsstand or subscribing at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to receive the print edition or view the full article in the e-edition version.