Laserfiche WebLink
EM <br />Figure 5 - Abandoned Railroad Embankment Serving as Inadvertent Flood Detention. <br />Source: RMA, c. 9/13/2013 <br />5.0 Emergency Response <br />Since the Dam Safety Branch learned about the dam breach after it occurred, there was no <br />immediate concern about danger to the public downstream and immediate emergency actions <br />were deemed unnecessary. The need to visit the site immediately was deemed unnecessary, <br />but a follow -up inspection was scheduled to confirm failure of the dams and collect any <br />forensic information. This was scheduled as soon as resources were available so that the data <br />could be collected prior to site degradation. <br />The response by RMA staff during the event was appropriate. Dam Safety Branch staff was <br />notified of the event and the actions RMA staff was taking to address it which included <br />notifying emergency managers in the downstream communities and deploying local staff to <br />monitor the situation. Ongoing communication between DSB personnel and RMA staff <br />revealed that the RMA staff had the situation in hand so no further immediate action was <br />taken by DSB personnel. RMA staff deployed additional resources to the abandoned railroad <br />embankment which served as inadvertent flood detention structure in the form of pumps to <br />Lower the water surface faster than the culvert capacity allowed. <br />