45 years ago Idaho's Teton Dam failed

[@trendywipp3715]

I was in Idaho Falls when this happened. I was 10. I can still remember the overflowing canals with dead cows and all sorts of debris in the water. It was frightening. This is the first time I have ever googled the tragedy that still haunts me to this day.

[@In_the_Music_Web]

Hey Trendy I was wondering if I could learn more about your experience. A group of mine is doing a book and a podcast series on the flood. No I'm not a robot or a businesswoman. If you are interested I'd be happy to send you my email ☺️.

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

I lived in northwest Wyoming. School was out, summer vacation was just beginning. Suddenly the Emergency Broadcast System announced that the Teton Dam had broken. I was 6, my brother was 10, and my sister was 11. We were freaking out because we thought they were talking about the Jackson Lake Dam, but then realized it was over in Idaho. I remember the TV coverage, there was news helicopter footage that was just unbelievable.

[@Zzx75]

I was also in Idaho Falls. The irrigation ditch near our home was overflowing.

[@vickiecavazos231]

yes it switched and ran through Rexburg instead of St.Anthony

[@vickiecavazos231]

my dad was running from it with his workers..we got lots of pictures of the afterwards

[@davidwallace9708]

They were told that the damn wooden hold and ignored those comments and built it anyway

[@richardrobison]

Design flaws. Yes. Construction flaws. No. Built perfectly to spec. Incorrect design for the location with porous canyon walls

[@bonniemarsing701]

The planners of the dam were told by several people that it wouldn't work.

[@arribaficationwineho32]

Who was in charge and what politician got paid for this?

[@danielramsey1959]

Evil corporate greed at work.

[@stargazer5073]

Sadness

[@donreed]

Next time, don't use balsa wood and chewing gum as the adhesive ingredient. The termites LOVE the stuff.

[@robertmoir5695]

What do you mean by that Don Reed What has that got to do with the Teton Dam disaster ?

[@robertmoir5695]

Much of this is new to me though I turned 15 in the fall of 1976 I do remember this occurance June 1976 Trendy Wipp

[@nikkidodd2305]

I was 13, turned 14 in december that year and was fishing near twin falls when that happened. I helped clean a flooded farm house near black foot.

[@robertmoir5695]

I did n t know it was a man made disaster No attempt to rebuild the town of Thistle Utan ither The huge mudslide 1983 I also recall the Teton Dam disaster June 5th 1976

[@tacticool96]

Cadillac Desert

[@mostafasoltani6202]

the failure was due to coarse material used in the dam and the groundwater penetrated through them

[@marhawkman303]

from the looks of those pictures? It had erosions making holes in the pile of dirt. look starting at 2:00. that spot where water was leaking through was creating a tunnel. then at one point it started to accelerate the erosion. the then it demonstrated the big difference between earthen work dams and concrete. Earthenwork erodes any time it leaks. Same thing happened all those years prior in Johnstown. Same result.. dam failed, town flooded, people died.

[@lang1031]

The Dam Engineeers did not do their job right. The Dam safety measures did not work. This caused alot of Dam water to flood two towns which turned into a Dam problem. This also caused people to loose thier Dam jobs as it was never rebuilt. No I am not cussing.

[@robloxgaming1518]

hi

[@reelsouthernadventures9933]

Dirt vs water water 1 dirt 0

[@Thenormalnut]

Rebuild it!

[@devobronc]

Never Happen.

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

@@devobronc Yep, that's a hard-pass. Nobody is going near that.

[@robertmoir5695]

Hopefully someday it will be rebuilt

[@robertmoir5695]

@@devobronc Well maybe not

[@edvisme]

I agree. Rebuild it with Concrete and steel. The spillway is already there. DO it!