Thousands of dams in the US are old, damaged and unable to cope with extreme weather. How bad is it?

The article reports that an estimated large number of dams across the United States are aging and in various states of disrepair. Many structures were built decades ago and were not designed for the frequency and intensity of contemporary extreme precipitation and storm events. Inspections have revealed damaged spillways, eroded embankments, and other structural issues; compounded inspection backlogs and insufficient funding for repairs increase the likelihood of overtopping or failure during heavy rainfall. The piece highlights the downstream flood risks, potential evacuations, and economic damages, urging increased investment in inspection, maintenance, and modernization of dam infrastructure.