Ever since it began showing sings of deterioration after a January rainstorm, officials fear that the Howard Hanson Dam is on its last legs.
With a November rainy season quickly approaching, local residents living along the Green River have been warned to pick up flood insurance, and be ready to evacuate the area.
Since its construction in 1962, the dam has proven invaluable in stopping local floods from occurring. Now that a section of the dam has been damaged in the January storm, workers are moving in to create a seal in the weakened area by injecting grout.
In addition to residential areas, a number of businesses, shopping malls, and factories are present in the area. Area election offices have been relocated so that votes can be tallied in the November election in the event of flooding.
Although engineers hope to create a permanent fix for the dam within a few years, they remain anxious as to whether or not the dam can maintain itself until then
