Norwich — Norwich Public Utilities will mark National Dam Safety Awareness Day on Sunday, a date that commemorates the failure of the South Fork Dam in Jamestown, Pa., in 1889. The dam failure resulted in the loss of more than 2,200 lives and was the worst dam failure in United States history. 

National Dam Safety Awareness Day was created to encourage and promote individual and community responsibility for dam safety, as well as to provide information on what steps can be taken to prevent catastrophic dam failures, NPU said in a news release. A secondary focus of the day is to promote the benefits that dams offer to communities. 

“Dams play an important role in the day-to-day operations of NPU and it is very important that our neighbors and community understand safety considerations near our dams throughout the year,” said Chris LaRose, assistant general manager at NPU.

Earlier this month, NPU installed buoys and warning signs at its dams that are in place each year between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Two "Dam Ahead" warning signs and 27 buoys were installed at the Occum Dam and 18 buoys and two "Dam Ahead" warning signs were installed at the Greeneville Dam, NPU said.

For 30 years, the federal government has been working to protect Americans from dam failure through the National Dam Safety Program. The program is led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is a partnership between state and federal agencies and other stakeholders to encourage individual and community commitment to dam safety, NPU said.

As part of National Dam Safety Awareness Day, NPU reminded the public to keep the following points in mind:

• Dam safety is a shared responsibility between individuals, the community at large and the operators of a dam.

• Dams provide many benefits to communities across the country, such as bringing water, power, flood control, recreation and economic development. However there are risks associated with dams, especially if a failure occurs.

• Purchasing flood insurance and having an emergency action plan in place for your family or business can save money and potentially save lives. Anyone living or working near a dam should know what to do if they have to evacuate, including contacting their local emergency management official.