WEBVTT

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(tranquil instrumental music)

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^- Hello, I'm Colonel Philip Secrist,

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^commander of the Huntington District

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^U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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^Welcome to Bluestone Dam.

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Thank you for joining us today,

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and now, let's get started.

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- [Narrator] Dams provide many benefits

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to people in local economies.

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But living with dams

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also comes with risks and responsibilities.

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If you live, work or play near a dam,

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it is important that you understand its benefits,

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its risks, and how to protect your life and property.

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There are several dams reducing flood risk

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along the New and Canal River Valleys in West Virginia.

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Bluestone Dam, located on the New River,

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in the town of Hinton, West Virginia,

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is one of these dams.

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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designed and built the dam in the 1940s.

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The structure rises 165 feet above the riverbed,

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and stretches nearly a half mile across the New River,

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creating the 11-mile-long Bluestone Lake.

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Bluestone Dam reduces tens of millions of dollars

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of flood damages and provides millions of dollars

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in recreational benefits as well.

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Bluestone Lake is one of

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southern West Virginia's key attractions,

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offering fishing, boating, camping,

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and other opportunities to more than a million visitors

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each year.

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The Corps has made significant investments

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in the dam over the years,

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but no amount of construction will eliminate all flood risk.

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When heavy rainfall occurs,

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Bluestone is designed to store excess run off in the lake,

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and then slowly release the water

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to give swollen streams and rivers below the dam

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a chance to recede.

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Like all dams,

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Bluestone can only store so much water.

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Extreme floods can exceed the dam's capacity.

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When this happens,

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water is released to protect the dam's integrity,

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even if it increases flooding downstream.

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When extreme weather requires Bluestone

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to pass major flows,

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there is a significant threat of loss of life,

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and billions of dollars of property damage that could occur

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as far downstream as Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

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Under extreme conditions,

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more than three million gallons of water

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could pass through the dam every second.

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The area at risk for flooding

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in the New and Canal River Valleys

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is generally from hillside to hillside,

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encompassing everything in between.

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During storm events,

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the Corps carefully monitors the weather forecast,

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and provides advance warning to state government officials

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of any concerns.

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This is important

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because advance warning of problems and events

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plays a major roll in reducing the risks

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of loss of life and property.

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Minimize your risks during flood events

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by listening for and following instructions

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from local emergency management officials.

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Every moment counts.

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Have an evacuation plan,

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and be prepared to evacuate.

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From gathering your family

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to packing medicine,

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know where to go

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and how to get there.

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Put a plan in place and follow it.

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Failure to do so

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places you and your family's lives at risk.

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Avoid all floodwaters.

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Conduct a practice evacuation drill,

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and include everyone in the family

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so they know what to do if an emergency hits.

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If you live in an area that could be flooded,

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strongly consider purchasing flood insurance.

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Know the warning signs of a flood:

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sirens, public service announcements,

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and weather service advisories.

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You might want to buy a weather radio

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or sign-up online for alerts and notices.

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Remind your local county and state elected officials

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^to make sound flood risk management decisions in your area.

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^Use the Corps water management website.

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^Monitor the U.S.G.S. stream gauge

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^and the National Weather Service websites

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^to stay informed about river levels,

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^lake conditions, and forecasts.

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Visit floodsmart.gov for more information

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on how to protect your loved ones.

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Living with dams is a shared responsibility.

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Know your role and take action to reduce your risk.

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^If you would like to learn more about the Bluestone Dam,

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^please visit our website

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^or contact our Huntington District Office directly.

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^Thank you for watching this presentation

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^and we look forward to seeing you again.

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(calming string instrumental tones)