What Causes Dam Failures?

This season can be a hard one, as spring and summer rains begin, snowmelt should be finished, but the ground is saturated and water levels are high. But nothing is quite as catastrophic as the flooding that is caused from a dam failure. This is what our neighbors in Michigan are battling with, and the team at Big Bags USA Flood Barriers wants to help. Our team is honored to get out and support those who are in need of assistance, and we do quite often. Here are a few things you may want to know about dam failures, some recent news headlines about Michigan, a swell as how Big Bags USA can help with the best flood barriers on the market.


What Causes Dam Failures?

As so many are finding themselves in precarious times right now, many are wondering "why?" Dam failures are catastrophic, and there are many reasons why something can happen to them. Here is a list from the Fema.gov website as to why dams can fail:
  • Overtopping caused by floods that exceed the capacity of the dam
  • Deliberate acts of sabotage
  • Structural failure of materials used in dam construction
  • Movement and/or failure of the foundation supporting the dam
  • Settlement and cracking of concrete or embankment dams
  • Piping and internal erosion of soil in embankment dams
  • Inadequate maintenance and upkeep
In Michigan, there are several dams that have been breached that were upstream of Midland along the Tittabawassee. They were releasing water relentlessly after 4 to 7 inches of rain fell on Sunday and Monday. As of Wednesday morning, the Tittabawassee River hit a historic high (surpassing a record set in 1986) reaching 34.6 feet. Keep in mind that the major flood stage is 28 feet.


The Catastrophic Flooding in Michigan

This event Is making headlines everywhere, and for good reason. Not only is Michigan experiencing the flooding, but there is potential for chemical spills as well. Here are a few of the recent headlines that have been surfacing about the flooding.

Michigan: threat of toxic contamination looms after dam failures trigger flooding

“Catastrophic flooding triggered by dam failures in Michigan could potentially release toxic pollution from a site contaminated by the industrial giant Dow Chemical.
Dow’s facility in Midland, Michigan, where the company is headquartered along the Tittabawassee River, manufactured chlorine-based products beginning in the early 1900s. The company discharged dioxins, chemical compounds which can cause reproductive harm and cancer, into the river.”

Michigan dam failures force 10,000 to evacuate and could leave one city under 9 feet of water

“Rapidly rising water overtook dams and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people in central Michigan, where the governor said one downtown could be "under approximately 9 feet of water" by Wednesday. For the second time in less than 24 hours, families living along the Tittabawassee River and connected lakes in Midland County were ordered to leave home.”

Michigan flooding displaces thousands, encroaches on chemical plant

“Rising floodwaters unleashed by two dam failures submerged parts of the central Michigan town of Midland on Wednesday, displacing thousands of residents and spreading into a Dow Chemical Co plant in the riverfront city.”

We’re Here For Support

From all of us at DRIPS LLC, exclusive United States manufacturer of the BIG BAGS USA barrier systems, we want you to know our mission is to save lives, protect property and reduce human suffering. With strategies in place during your "action" stage, we teach you how to defend roadways and property from any rising water.

We know how quickly floods can escalate and what kinds of damage that they can leave behind. If your community needs cost-effective flood barriers, be sure to reach out. We are ready to get deliveries taken care of, and all of our bags are MADE IN THE USA!

If you are planning on stocking up on easy-to-deploy flood barriers before flooding becomes an issue in your area, you can sign up for Schedule 84 - it’s a great program for assisting with disaster relief. You can find the links to those resources below.

MADE IN THE USA ~ 100% Manufactured in Missouri ~ BUY AMERICAN  

If you have an immediate need for our systems or have any questions for us, please call us toll-free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.


ALWAYS READY TO HELP LOCAL, STATE, & FEDERAL AGENCIES ... BE PREPARED!

Location: Camdenton, MO 65020, USA

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