Experts were confident that Tempe Town Lake dam would last for 25 to 30 years. The inflatable rubber dam created Town Lake for the city of Tempe, Arizona, a tourist destination and point of civic pride for residents. According to Associated Press reports, nevertheless, one of the 11-year-old dam segments burst. Two-thirds to three-fourths of all the water in Tempe Town Lake – thousands of gallons – gushed to the connecting Salt River, a dry riverbed that is known as a spot for homeless people to stay during summer months.
No injury reports at Tempe Town Lake
Media reports have revealed nothing concerning any injuries at Tempe Town Lake, and also the flood waters have not caused severe property damage as yet. Area residents said they heard a loud “ka-boom” and felt the ground shake near Arizona State University. Seconds afterward, witnesses saw animals fleeing the scene. Minutes later, a safety alarm rang out. Reports as to whether any potential transients within the Salt River bed heard the siren are currently inconclusive.
One billion gallons, flowing out at 15,000 cubic feet per second
That’s the flow at Tempe Town Lake, says Mayor Hugh Hallman. As far back as 2007, experts reportedly knew the Arizona climate was wreaking havoc with the structural integrity of the rubber dam. Yet repair action was not taken at that time. By April 2009, the makers of Tempe Town Lake dam made a safety recommendation, but Tempe chose to ignore the warning.
What about the homeless?
Officials know the alarm sounded, but they don’t know if the blowout at Tempe Town Lake dam impacted any homeless persons within the dry riverbed. Most consider this event exploded rubber and government impotency. However, when the cost of homelessness is factored in, there could be fiscal import. A wide array of experts have founded studies that show that the U.S. shells out nearly $ 11 billion annually to address chronic homelessness. Forbes reports that that figure would descend to a more manageable $ 7.88 billion if the homeless were given permanent homes.
Low-cost housing is the life raft
As outlined by AZCentral.com, there are as many as 8,000 homeless in Tempe’s Maricopa County every day. If those 8,000 people – only some of whom may live within the Salt River area near Tempe Town Lake – had homes, not only would the nation be saving money, but Maricopa County would reportedly save as much as 50 percent on emergency resources. If the Tempe Town Lake dam event moves more homeless people into permanent housing, something truly optimistic will result from this minor civic disaster.
Sources
philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation/20100721_ap_rubberizeddambreaksatmanmadearizonalake.html
azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/2010/06/11/20100611tempe-homeless-outreach-united-way.html
forbes.com/2006/08/25/us-homeless-aid-cx_np_0828oxford.html
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