SOUTH FORK (AKA JOHNSTOWN DAM) - PA00000-102
Dam Name: SOUTH FORK (AKA JOHNSTOWN DAM)
State: PA
Downstream Hazard Potential: H
Incident Type: Failure
Incident Date: 01/01/1889
Incident Driver: Hydrologic/Flooding
Incident Mechanism 1: Overtopping
Incident Mechanism 2
Incident Mechanism 3
Incident IDPA00000-102
Incident Description
Named Hydrologic Event
EAP Enacted (Y/N) due to IncidentNo
Fatalities (Number)2209
Number of People Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Flooded
Other Infrastructure Impacts
Economic Damages (in $)$10 million to $25 million
Response
Volume released at failure (ac-ft)
Additional Remarks or Updates37 high wall of water hit Johnstown, 9 miles downstream. The dam had a deficient outlet and spillway, had been improperly maintained, and was overtopped and washed out during heavy rains. It took 57 minutes for the 30-40 ft-high floodwave (which had re
Fatalities: 2209 - Victims: 99 entire families, 396 children under the age of 10, and 755 unidentified victims. 45% of the victims whose ages were known were under 20. More than 1 in every 5 residents of Johnstown were killed.
Fatalities: 2209 - Victims: 99 entire families, 396 children under the age of 10, and 755 unidentified victims. 45% of the victims whose ages were known were under 20. More than 1 in every 5 residents of Johnstown were killed.
Owner Type
Dam TypeRE
Primary Purpose(s)R
EAP
Dam Height72 ft
Max Storage (ac-ft)
Surface Area (acres)0.00
Year Completed
NID NumberPA00000
River NameLITTLE CONEMAUGH RIVER
Latitude0
Longitude0
Year Modified
Regulatory Agency(ies)
Incident Time
Incident Duration
Incident Report Produced
Information Sources
