Dam Safety Program

​The Cal EMA Dam Safety Program was established by Government Code §8589.5 in 1972 following a near failure of the Lower San Fernando Dam during the Sylmar Earthquake.  The Dam Safety Program provides assistance and guidance to local jurisdictions on emergency planning for dam failure events, collects and reviews dam failure inundation maps, and evaluates waivers from the inundation mapping requirement. The Dam Safety program coordinates with the California Division of Safety of Dams and other state and federal agencies in activities to assure effective dam incident emergency response procedures and planning.

The Cal EMA Dam Program is also the designated repository of the official dam failure inundation maps used in California’s Natural Hazard Disclosure statement as specified in Civil Code § 1103 for real estate transactions.