page 1 advanced hydrologic prediction services nws inundation mapping eastern region flash flood...

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Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services

NWS Inundation Mapping Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services

NWS Inundation Mapping

Eastern Region Flash Flood Workshop June 4, 2010

Presentation by Laurie Hogan NOAA/NWS Eastern Region Headquarters

Presentation by Laurie Hogan NOAA/NWS Eastern Region Headquarters

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Q: Is flooding really that big of a deal? Flooding causes more damage in the United States than any other severe weather related event, an average of $5 billion a year. Flooding can occur in any of the 50 states or U.S. territories at anytime of the year.

http://www.weather.gov/floodsafety/floodsafe.shtml

Recent Record Floods from the Headlines

Nashville, TNCranston, West Warwick, RI

Floods are a big deal!!

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• Features of NWS Inundation Maps

• Use of NWS Maps for Risk-Based Decisions

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services

NWS Inundation Mapping

NWS Inundation Mapping Features

NWS Inundation Mapping Features

• Partnered effort, utilizing FEMA approved hydraulic models

• Visually oriented products

– Flood emergency operation/planning, available to public

• Easy product access linked to existing AHPS info

• Flood depth estimates

• KML and shape files (GIS formats) to integrated with user-specific data.

Inundation Mapping on AHPSInundation Mapping on AHPS

Inundation Mapping on AHPSInundation Mapping on AHPS

Water Depth Estimates

Inundation Mapping on AHPSInundation Mapping on AHPSShape files imported into ESRI ArcMap software

Record flood stage and 3 ft above record flood stage

Imported into Google Earth

Thoughts borrowed from FEMA‘S RiskMAP

Identify Risk

Things to identify:

• Inundation areas for continuum of flooding

• Depth of flood waters• Historic flood crests• What does a more

extreme flood look like for this city/community?

Assess Risk

With the inundation areas, you can assess:

• What neighborhoods will be impacted? – How/when will they be

evacuated?

• Are critical facilities or evacuation routes in jeopardy?– Can preventative efforts be

successful?

Communicate Risk

Pictures are powerful!

• Depiction of historic floods with a current context (existing roads, schools, etc)

• Are family flood preparedness plans needed?

Mitigate Risk

Decisions/Investments:

• Protective measures and evacuation during floods

• Improvements to infrastructure, public and personal

• Zoning changes, new regulations

Review of AHPS Inundation Maps

http://water.weather.gov/ahps/inundation.php

Review of AHPS Inundation Maps

http://water.weather.gov/ahps/inundation.php

• Continuum of flooding, action Continuum of flooding, action

stage to record levels stage to record levels

• Both NAVD88 and stage Both NAVD88 and stage

inundation selections inundation selections

• Web interface and GIS formats Web interface and GIS formats

• Available 24x7Available 24x7

Nashville Flood

Rhode Island Flood

•10 inches < 48 hours • River crested 5 feet above previous record

laurie.hogan@noaa.gov

Telephone: 631-244-0114

laurie.hogan@noaa.gov

Telephone: 631-244-0114