// Risk Intelligence
| Risk Score | 8 / 10 High |
| Facility Type | 🌊 Major Dam / Flood Control |
| Operator / Branch | Nebraska Public Power District |
| Host County | Boyd County NE |
| Nearest City | Washington, DC |
| Primary Risk Radius | 10 miles |
| Secondary Risk Radius | 50 miles |
// Strategic Significance
Spencer Dam on the Niobrara River failed completely on March 14 2019 during the catastrophic bomb cyclone flooding releasing a wall of water downstream. The dam failure killed one person and sent ice floes the size of houses downriver. The failure was one of several infrastructure collapses during the 2019 Nebraska flood disaster which caused $3 billion in damage statewide. The dam site remains unrepaired.
// Civilian Impact Assessment
Boyd County and downstream Niobrara River communities experienced the dam failure directly. The 2019 bomb cyclone demonstrated how quickly multiple infrastructure failures can compound during extreme weather events in the Great Plains.
// Evacuation & Shelter Guidance
Nebraska Route 12, Nebraska Route 11. Boyd County Emergency Management coordinates Niobrara River flooding protocols.