National Dam Safety Program Publications
The National Dam Safety Program provides a variety of publications, including:
- Research Needs Workshop Reports
- Technical Manuals, Guides and Reports
- Technical Advisories
- Safety Series Fact Sheets
- Response and Recovery (R&R) Dam Response Operations Matrices
- Dam Safety & Risk MAP/Flood Mapping Studies Fact Sheet Series
- DSS-WISE Fact Sheets
- FEMA P-1015, Technical Manual: Overtopping Protection for Dams (ZIP, 410MB)
Search for Dam Safety Publications
Search for documents below, or view our pages on Federal Guidelines, National Dam Safety Program Information, Resources for the General Public, or Resources for States.
You can order publications from the FEMA Distribution Center.
The Rehabilitation of High Hazard Dams grant program requires the development of a floodplain management plan. This summarizes the Floodplain Management Plan (FPMP) job aid developed by the National Dam Safety Review Board to provide references, and to aid grant recipients in their plan development.
FEMA has created the Dam Safety with Beaverly coloring book to help you and your children or young students learn more about dams and how to stay safe around them.
The National Dam Safety Review Board recommended a Project Prioritization Method for applicants to use to meet the priority system process required by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, as amended by 33 USC 467f-2. The Project Prioritization Method described in this fact sheet will launch with the upcoming HHPD Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Under the National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) State Assistance (SA) grant, the purchase of technology supporting State dam safety programs is an allowable expense. Unmanned aerial systems, also known drones or controlled equipment, are authorized for purchase using these grants. In this fact sheet, unmanned aerial systems are referred to as detection equipment.
Hosted by FEMA's National Dam Safety Program (NDSP), the research summit had 55 attendees from 39 different federal and state agencies and industry partners in attendance. The mission of the Research Summit was to evaluate near-term industry needs for dam safety and to outline a path forward for the future. This report summarizes each phase of the process taken to identify these priorities and projects.
Developed in partnership with the ICODS and the NDSRB, this 5-year strategy is focused on results for the NDSP to reduce risks to life, property, and the environment from dam failure by guiding public policy and leveraging industry best practices across the dam safety community. It also builds the foundation for what the program will look like in 5 years to ensure the benefits and risks of dams are understood and managed equitably, enhancing public safety, national security, and the environment while adapting to climate change.
The National Dam Safety Program is a partnership of states, federal agencies and other stakeholders to encourage and promote the establishment and maintenance of effective federal and state dam safety programs to reduce the risk to human life, property, and the environment from dam related hazards. This brochure provides an overview of the FEMA National Dam Safety Program.