Emergency action plan risk planning

As a dam owner, you cannot force an evacuation. Dam owners can only warn and notify people who are at risk from hazard and/or emergency events at a dam.

Referable dam emergency action plans (EAPs) should complement local disaster management plans. Their main aim should to be to ensure notifications and warnings are provided to people, either upstream or downstream of the referable dam, who may be affected by dam failure flooding or dam release hazards.

The plan is not required to explicitly cover itinerant persons who happen to be downstream of a dam (although such warnings are highly desirable, time permitting). Similar limitations might also apply to people using downstream roads.

Examples of itinerant persons or groups include:

• campers in recognised camping areas
• road or rail users
• users of parks and gardens
• seasonal workers
• people engaged in recreational, sport or tourist activities
• attendees at festivals, concerts or other special events.

Also consider...

• Read more about dam ownership, emergencies and flood information.