Third Time's the Charm: South Carolina's Dam Safety Program's Experience with Hurrican Irma, the State's Third Significant Storm Event in Three Years

Abstract Only - Over the past three years, South Carolina has experienced a series of storm events which have driven the State’s Dam Safety Program in a new, technology-driven direction. With a historic storm event in 2015 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the program utilized a reactive approach to assess impacts to South Carolina’s dams from the storms. More than 70 dams were found to have breached from these events combined. Program staff assessed more than 600 dams in 2015 and nearly 500 in 2016.
In an effort to “Work Smarter, Not Harder”, South Carolina’s Dam Safety Program staff utilized an array of available technology to assess dams and communicate with dam owners before and after the storm. This presentation will cover the development and use of several of those tools to respond to Hurricane Irma in 2017 Technologies to be highlighted include:
· E-Permitting - The Department’s data management and routine inspection tool came online in February of 2017, bringing additional tracking features and containing the results of nearly 2000 inspections performed by the Department’s contract engineer during 2017.
· ArcGIS Collector - Since the flood of 2015, the Department has utilized a tool called the ArcGIS Collector, an app that DHEC staff can install on phones or an iPad, allows the Department to rapidly collect data on dams as they are assessed before and after the arrival of a tropical weather system.
· CodeRed - DHEC has contracted with the OnSolve to utilize their CodeRed emergency notification system to send automatic voice call, text messages, and emails to owners and operators of regulated dams before and after storms.
· Inundation Mapping - Inundation Maps are available for all high and significant hazard dams, as well as many low hazard dams. Maps developed using Enhanced Sims Mapping, as well as use and access to DSS Wise Lite allows staff to quickly determine potential impacts from dam failure.
· ArcGIS Dashboard – For Hurricane Irma, DHEC’s Dam Safety Program utilized the ArcGIS Dashboard to provide quick tallies and view of pre-and -post Irma assessment efforts of regulated dams.