Listen carefully—that’s eight short blasts. I asked a NorthWestern Energy worker what catastrophe would trigger such a warning. Dam failure, he said. Of course. This was on Ryan Island just downstream of Ryan Dam. (Ed Kemmick/Last Best News)
It doesn’t have to be a failure, sometimes just opening a spillway is enough to flood certain islands. I’ve seen a video (probably Tom Scott, but not sure) of a dam where the spillway is opened every day to show tourists what the downstream river looked like before it was constructed.
Found this explanation,quoted from the writer:
Listen carefully—that’s eight short blasts. I asked a NorthWestern Energy worker what catastrophe would trigger such a warning. Dam failure, he said. Of course. This was on Ryan Island just downstream of Ryan Dam. (Ed Kemmick/Last Best News)
Though if you hear seven or nine blasts, definitely stick around for the barbecue!
It doesn’t have to be a failure, sometimes just opening a spillway is enough to flood certain islands. I’ve seen a video (probably Tom Scott, but not sure) of a dam where the spillway is opened every day to show tourists what the downstream river looked like before it was constructed.