flood awareness 2011

8/7/2019 Flood Awareness 2011

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FloodAwarenessW

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March14-18,2011

FLOOD SAFETYAWARENESSWEEK

March 14March 14--18, 201118, 2011

www.weather.gov/floodsafety/Be Prepared!


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Flood Safety Awareness Week EventsMarch 14 - March 18, 2011

Throughout the week, the National Weather Service will present educational material to help people prepare and

protect themselves during flood events. Below is the focus of each day of the week:

Monday, March 14, we will focus on the National Weather Services Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service(AHPS). This is the National Weather Services frontline solution to provide improved river and flood forecastingand water information to the public across the United States.

Tuesday, March 15, draws attention to the Turn Around Dont Drown (TADD) campaign. This campaign isdesigned to warn people of the hazards of walking or driving a vehicle through flood waters.

Wednesday, March 16, will emphasize tropical cyclone inland flooding. We will highlight the dangers of floodingassociated with tropical systems.

Thursday, March 17, will focus on the National Flood Insurance Program. Homeowners policies do not cover

flooding. We will explain what flood insurance covers and how to purchase it.

Friday, March 18, will be a day to review flood safety rules.

Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippiproclaimed

March 14 March 18, 2011Flood Safety Awareness Week in Mississippi

Overview

Thanks for taking the time to read this Flood Safety Awareness Week brochure The purpose of this week is to raise thepublic attention to the dangers of flooding and ways to protect life and property. In the United States, each year

ooding kills more people than any other severe weather phenomenon. Flooding causes damages in excess of 5.2billion dollars. Three quarters of all presidential declared disasters result from floods.

Flooding is the countrys #1 natural disaster. Our Hydrologic Service Area (HSA) is vulnerable to river and stream

ooding, flash flooding, coastal flooding, and drainage flooding. One in six acres in Mississippi is found within thedelineated floodplain. Flood losses within Mississippi have increased from $278 million in 2004 to $2.8 billion in 2010.Arkansas and Louisiana most likely have observed similar flood loss increases.

Our proximity to the Gulf of Mexico supplies the much needed moisture that fuels heavy rainfall potential. Flooding canoccur from influences of large scale weather systems such as major frontal systems and hurricanes to the small scaleheavy thunderstorm. Flooding can also occur on sunny days such as the Big Bay Dam Break in 2004 and variousMississippi River floods which were produced by storms over the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys.

This brochure will highlight the area of focus for each day of the week during Flood Safety Awareness Week 2011.

We would like to thank the NWS office in Nashville, TN for allowing us to use their template .


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What is AHPS?

AHPS is the National Weather Services frontlinesolution to provide improved river and flood forecastingand water information to the public across the United

States. This is needed because flooding kills more thanany other form of weather except heat., causingdamages in excess of 7.5 billion dollars per year.

AHPS Service Delivery Levels

BASIC

Long-term probability information

Enhanced river level forecasts

FULL

Enhanced flash flood warnings

Short and medium- term probability information

Low flow and drought products

WITH PARTNERED DATA SETS (From the United States Geological Survey or Corp of Engineers)

Flood Forecast Maps (Maps are being developed in Hattiesburg using local funding)

AHPS will Answer the following questions:

1. How high will the river rise?

2. When will the river crest?

3. Where will it flood?

4. How long will the flooding last?

5. What are the impacts of the flood?

r

Luxapallila Creek January 8, 2009Photo By NWS Jackson, MS

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

(AHPS)

Day 1 - Monday, March 14, 2011


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Day 1 - Monday, March 14, 2011 ( AHPS Continued)

National AHPS Map http://water.weather.govThis web page shows the flood status at all National Weather Service river forecast locations.

Clicking on this tabshows locations whereobservations

areavailable, color codedaccording to theircurrent flood status.

Clicking on this tabshows locations whereforecastsare available,color coded accordingto highest forecast forthe next two days.

Allows user to displayall locations, hydrograph

only locations,hydrograph/probabilityforecast locations, andinundation maplocations.

Click here to onlydisplay locationscurrently in flood.

First row shows optionsavailable on the NWS

home page.

Second row showsoptions available underthe Water category.

NWS river forecastsand flood products are

critically dependent onthe USGS streamgaging network.

Color coding schemeused on map locationsto indicate flood status.Click on colored boxand only points in thatcategory are displayed.

Clicking on any locationbrings up a regional mapcontaining that location.

(HSA) http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=janThis web page shows the flood status of river forecast locations in the WFO Jackson HSA. Selecting a specific

river/stream location provides access to localized information. (Can Click on MS in the National AHPS Map also)

Clicking on this tabshows locations whereobservationsareavailable, color codedaccording to theircurrent flood status.

Clicking on this tabshows locations where

forecastsare available,color coded accordingto highest forecast forthe next two days.

Navigation arrowsallow user to move toneighboring regions.

Squares indicatelocations with observedhydrograph plots, somewhich include near-termforecasts. Circles areused for locations thatalso have forecastuncertainty informationout to several months.

Area of interest in relationto state boundaries.

Extensive inundation ofstructures and roads.Significant evacuationsof people and property.

Some inundation ofstructures and roadsnear stream someevacuations of people

and property.

Minimal or no propertydamage, but possiblysome public threat.

River or stream levelapproaching flood stage.

River or stream levelbelow flood stage.

No data received fromthis site in at least 24 hrs.

River or stream gaugeis not operating.

User selectableoverlays.

Color of icon indicatescategory of flooding.


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Hydrograph

Weekly Chance of Exceeding LevelsThis graphic provides the probability of exceeding various river/stream levels during the next

three months given the weather patterns in past years and the best available long-term forecasts.

The hydrograph is the first graphic displayed after clicking on a specific river or stream location on the Hydrologic

Service Area (HSA) Map. It provides recent observations for many points and a forecast for the next few days. Tabs

at the top of the hydrograph allow a user to display other graphical information for the river/steam location.

Latest observed stagewith time and date.Flood stage is includedif available.

Peak observed andforecast stages duringtime period covered bygraph.

Scale for indicatingwater level in terms ofstage in feet (ft).

Observed trace indicates water leveltrends over pastseveral days.

Vertical line marks thecurrent viewing time.

Coordinated UniversalTime (UTC) scale.

Color coded floodcategories for locationbeing viewed, with stagewhere each categorystarts. Flood severitycolor scheme isconsistent throughoutthese web pages.

Scale for indicatingwater level in terms of

flow in thousands ofcubic feet per second(kcfs).

Forecast trace showsexpected water leveltrend over next few days.

Local time scale.

Lines for flood categorylevels use the samecolor scheme shown onthe flood hydrographand other web pages.

Each colored section ofvertical bar represents arange of probabilities(e.g., 5% to 25% for thegreen bars). Range ofstages corresponding tothose probabilities canbe found on the leftscale of the graph (seeExample).

Bars are shown inweekly increments.

Provides explanation ofthe graph.

Example: For week of4/11 to 4/18, the bottomof the green bar showsthere is a 25% chancethe stage will exceedabout 12.5 feet and thetop shows there is a 5%chance the stage willexceed about 16 feet.

Allows user to displayprobabilities in terms ofstage, discharge, orweekly flow volume.

On the web, click on About thisgraph for description of this plot



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Precipitation

Interactive Snow InformationThis graphic provides the probability of exceeding various river/stream levels during the next

three months given the weather patterns in past years and the best available long-term forecasts.

This web page shows the digital precipitation estimates used in National Weather Service river forecast models.


Allows download ofdigital data in shapefileor netCDF format.

Description ofprecipitation displayand its features.

Selectable timeframe:current, archivedmonthly, or archiveddaily data.

User can select yearand month or year,month, and daydepending on archivetimeframe chosen.

Third row showsoptions available underPrecipitation category.

Provides list of links toother precipitation related web pages.

Feedback from users ishighly valued.

Precipitation depth inselected units.

User selectableoverlays.

Select units for display.

Area covered: state,major hydrologic region,or weather forecastoffice area (defaults toCONUS + Puerto Rico.

Control map zoom downto portions of counties.

When box is red,clicking and draggingwhile holding downmouse button and thenreleasing zooms in oncreated rectangle area.

Select type of data todisplay e.g., snowwater equivalent, snowdepth, or snow waterequivalent change.

Select date and time todisplay.

Select geographicfeatures to display.

Select display units(U.S., metric).

Miscellaneous displaycontrol features.

Latitude and longitudeof cursor location. Usercan enter coordinatesto re-center map.

Map shows portion ofU.S. currently beingdisplayed.

Key to information beingdisplayed.

Elevation key for basemap.

Directions for use ofinteractive features.


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This interactive web page shows the spatial extent of possible or expected flooding in a given area. It can be used to

show if roadways and structures will be impacted by floodwaters. At the limited number of forecast locations where

inundation maps are currently available, this web page is accessed by clicking on the inundation mapping tab on the

hydrograph web page. Research for flood maps are funded at the local level. The first flood inundation maps in theWFO Jackson HSA will be in the Hattiesburg area in the next few years. (funded by local contributions and grants)Activate feature to showwater depth at cursor(detailed mode only).

Set display: inundationlevels, flood categories,or current forecast.

Menu for inundationlevels shown on map:stage = 21 feet ishighlighted in yellow.

Slider for adjustingtransparency of overlay.

Stage at inundation levelcurrently shown on map.

Print/save image, down-load data, and links tosupporting documents.

Mouse cursor locationinformation, includingwater depth when thefeature is activated.

Selectbackground:standard mapor detailedphoto.

Latest stageobservation.

Clickinganywhere onmap allowsuser to zoomin on area ofinterest.

Floodinundation atstage = 21 ftis shown onmap.

Providesoverlays forFEMA 100-year flood,500-yearflood, andfloodwaymaps.

Describesstage whereeach flood

categorybegins.

Color scalefor depth of

inundation.

Flood category display

Current forecast display

List ofhistoricalflood crests.

Flood Inundation Map

100-year flood 500-year flood


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Day 2 - Tuesday, March 15, 2011

TURN AROUND DONT DROWN

(TADD)

What is Turn Around Dont Drown?

TADD is a campaign to warn people of the hazards ofwalking or driving a vehicle through flood waters.

Luxapallila Creek January 8, 2009Photo By NWS Jackson, MS

Why is TADD so important?

Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than anyother thunderstorm related hazard. Many underestimatethe force and power of water. More than half of all floodrelated deaths result from vehicles being sweptdownstream. Many of these were preventable.

I can see the roadway on the other side of the water and the water doesntappear to be too deep or moving too fast. Is it okay to cross the floodedarea?

What appears to be shallow and slow moving water can be misleading. Depending on howfast the current is and how long the area has been flooded can have a significant effect on

the roadway itself. You could be driving into areas where roads have eroded. This couldcause your vehicle to drop into the river or a large washed out area.

Hazards of driving an automobile intowater:

Swiftly moving water can pick up your car and take itdownstream.

Roads may be washed out underneath the water.
http://www.srh.weather.gov/tadd/images/taddbarrier.pdf


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Day 2 - Tuesday, March 15, 2011 (Continued)

TURN AROUND DONT DROWN

(TADD)

How can a foot or two of water cost your life?

Source: FEMA website


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Day 3 - Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Tropical Cyclone Inland Flooding

What you need to know about inland flooding?

When it comes to tropical cyclones such as hurricanes, tropical storms ortropical depressions, intense rainfall, not related to wind speed, oftencauses more damage. Since the 1970s, flooding from tropicalcyclones has been responsible for more than half of the deaths associ-ated with tropical systems in the United States.

Factors Affecting Inland Flooding:

Forward speed - Slower moving tropical cyclones allow heavy rainfall to persist over a location. Orography - Warm moist tropical air is forced up hills, the rain is intensified Intersection with other weather features -The remains of a tropical system can merge with a frontal

system or boundary producing extremely heavy rainfall. Antecedent conditions The wetter the soil and the higher the water in streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and

reservoirs, the greater the severity of flooding.

Tropical Cyclones can, and usually do, cause several types of flooding:

Flash flooding occurs within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall. The rapidly rising water canreach heights of 30 feet or more and can roll boulders, rip trees from the ground, and destroy buildingsand bridges.

Urban area floods are due to the conversion of fields and woodlands to roads and parking lots. Streetscan become swift-moving rivers.

Coastal flooding occurs when strong winds blow onshore, pushing water inland. Tropical cyclonescause extensive damage from storm surges when water, piled along the shore, rushes inland.

River flooding occurs when torrential rains from decaying hurricanes or tropical storms produce majorfloods. River floods can occur in a few hours and also last a week or longer.

Tropical Storm Allison inlandflooding in Houston, TX
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cyclone_Deaths.svg


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Day 3 - Wednesday, March 16, 2011 (Continued)

Tropical Cyclone Inland Flooding

Pictures: Mississippi Levee Board

HURRICANE GUSTAV:

In the last hundred years, Mississippi, Northeast Louisiana, and Southeast Arkansas had notexperienced major flooding from tropical systems stalling or dying over the area. This wasuntil 2008 when Southeast Arkansas, Northeast Louisiana, and West Mississippi experiencedmajor flash flooding and river flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Gustav. Many areaswere inundated with 10 to 20 plus inches of rainfall that fell in a short time period. No deathswere reported but multi-millions of dollars in damages occurred over Northeast Louisiana,Southeast Arkansas, and portions of West Mississippi, especially in the Washington County/

Greenville, MS area.

A storm of this scope over more vulnerable and populated areas of the ARKLAMISS region,such as Jackson, Hattiesburg, Meridian, and Columbus, could potentially cause major loss oflife and property.


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Day 4 - Thursday, March 17, 2011

National Flood Insurance Program

(NFIP)

What is the National Flood insurance Program?

In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)to help provide a means for property owners to financially protectthemselves. The NFIP offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters,and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP.Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances thatmeet or exceed FEMA requirements to reduce the risk of flooding.

Why should I have flood insurance? Doesnt my homeowners or commercial propertyinsurance already cover flood damage?

Most homeowners and commercial insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Floods are the #1 naturaldisaster within the United States. They are more common than tornadoes, earthquakes and fires. They havecaused billions of dollars of losses in the U.S. over the last 10 years. There is a 26% chance of experiencing aflood during the life of a 30-year mortgage in high-risk areas. If your home or business is in a high-risk area, it ismore than twice as likely to experience a flood than fire.

I live in a low-risk flood zone. Do I really need flood insurance?

Many residents of Mississippi, Northeast Louisiana, and Southeast Arkansas live in flood vulnerable areas;however, many of these areas do not require flood insurance. It is a good idea to buy flood insurance even ifyou live in a low-risk or moderate-risk area. Flooding occurs in low-to-moderate risk areas as well as inhigh-risk areas. Poor drainage systems, rapid accumulation of rainfall and broken water mains can all result inflooding. Also, with new development comes changes to runoff and drainage patterns, which can causehomes or businesses to flood which have never flooded in the past. Almost 25 percent of all flood insuranceclaims come from areas with low-to-moderate flood risk. In low risk areas, flood policies can start as low as$100.00.

Who manages the National Flood Insurance Program?Can anyone get flood insurance?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages theNFIP. Flood insurance is available to anyone that lives in acommunity that participates in the NFIP. Community participation isvoluntary. To participate, a community must agree to adopt andenforce floodplain management ordinances that are designed toreduce flood damage. In exchange, the program makes federallybacked flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, andbusiness owners. If flooding occurs, the community also qualifies

for certain federal grants and disaster assistance.
http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/


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Day 4 - Thursday, March 17, 2011 (Continued)

National Flood Insurance Program

(NFIP)

Why not just wait to purchase flood insurance until the flood is a few days away?

It takes 30 days after the purchase for a policy to take effect, so it is important to buy insurance before thefloodwaters start to rise. Tropical cyclone flooding and other types of flooding occur with much less than 30days notice. An exception to the 30-day waiting rule is when flood insurance is required as part of a mortgage.Flood insurance is mandatory if your property is in a high-risk area or a special flood hazard area and you have afederally-backed mortgage. BUY WELL AHEAD OF FLOOD SEASON AND HURRICANE SEASON!

Where can I purchase or view the current flood maps?Flood maps like the one below can be viewed at no cost or purchased for minimal cost.Go to the website http://msc.fema.gov and type in your address at the top left corner.

Where can I buy flood insurance?

If your community participates in the NFIP, you can purchase flood insurance through those agents that haveagreed to work with the NFIP. They may or may not be the insurance agent you presently use for your currentinsurance. Your agent may be able to help you find out how to purchase insurance or you can find a list of flood

insurance agents at the NFIP website:

http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/choose_your_policy/agent_locator.jsp
http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/


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Day 5 - Friday, March 18, 2011

FLOOD SAFETY

Terms and definitions to know

Flash Flood - A rapid (generally within 6 hours) rise of water along a stream or low-lying areaafter a heavy rainfall or from the failure of a dam, levee, or ice jam. By definition, flash floodingis life threatening.

Flood - A flood occurs when water overflows the confines of a river, stream, or body of water,or accumulates in a poorly drained low-lying or urban area.

Flash Flood Watch - Issued when conditions are favorable for flash flooding. A watch usuallygives 12 to 36 hours advance notice of the onset of probable flooding. A watch indicates aneed for planning, preparation, and an increased awareness of changing weather conditions.

Flood Watch - Issued when conditions are favorable for river flooding. A watch usually gives 12to 36 hours advance notice of the onset of probable river flooding.

Flash Flood Warning - Issued when: Flash flooding is reported or is imminent. A dam or levee failure is imminent or occurring. Precipitation capable of causing flash flooding is indicated by radar, rain gages, and/

or satellite imagery or the Weather Services Flash Flood Monitoring Program (FFMP).

Flood Warning - Issued for flooding along rivers and streams. A warning indicates the need totake immediate action to protect life and property. The two categories of flood warnings are:

Point Specific Flood Warning - Issued for specific forecast points on a river. Areal Flood Warning - Issued for flooding occurring over a river basin, county or a

portion of a county where water is not rising rapidly but flood is ongoing.

Flooding on

Bogue HomaCreek in JonesCounty, MS(3/10/2011)

Picture taken by NWS Jackson


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Day 5 - Friday, March 18, 2011 (Continued)

FLOOD SAFETY

Flood/Flash Flood Safety Rules

Monitor NOAA Weather Radio, or your favorite news source, for vital weather informationbefore venturing into flood prone areas.

If flooding occurs, move to higher ground, away from areas subject to flooding such as dipsin roads and other low spots.

Avoid areas already flooded and do not attempt to cross flowing streams.

Do not drive around barricades that warn you the road is flooded

Turn Around Dont Drown

Never drive through flooded roadways, as the roadbed under the water may be washed out.

Never allow children to play around storm drains and ditches.

Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams, if there is a threat of flooding.

Be especially cautious driving at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers such asflooded roads and washed out bridges and roads.

Think inland flooding, the next time you hear hurricane or tropical storm. Some of thegreatest rainfall totals occur from weaker storms that drift slowly or stall over an area.

Develop a flood emergency plan. Determine your flood risk and purchase flood insurance ifnecessary. Flood damage is not covered by your homeowners insurance.

Flooding on

Tallahala Creeknear Laurel inJones County, MS(03/10/2011)

Picture taken by NWS Jacksonofficial photographer.


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Historical Floods

WFO Jackson, MS

Mississippi River Flood of 1927

Easter Flood of April of 1979 (Big Black, Pearl River, and Tombigbee River)

Floods of February 1961 (Pascagoula River System)

Floods of December 1961 (Big Black, Pearl, Lower Tombigbee)

Mississippi River and Tombigbee River floods of 1973

Southern Mississippi floods of 1974

Floods of Central and South Mississippi Spring of 1983

Hurricane Gustav flooding Northeast Louisiana, Southeast Arkansas, andWashington County, MS September 2008


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For Your Information

This booklet contains materials useful during the Flood Safety Awareness Week campaign as wellas other times.

Each county in Mississippi is served by a designated National Weather Service Office as identifiedbelow:

The remainder of Arkansas is served by NWS Little Rock (Green) and WFO ShreveportThe remainder of Louisiana is served by NWS Shreveport and Lake Charles

Information Resources on the World Wide WebFor additional resources, the following web sites are available:

NWS Jackson: www.srh.noaa.gov/janNWS Memphis: www.srh.noaa.gov/meg

NWS New Orleans: www.srh.noaa.gov/lixNWS Mobile: www.srh.noaa.gov/mob

All NWS Offices:

http://www.weather.gov

Hydrologist or Hydrologist focal point

Jackson............................ .Marty Pope (601) 939-2786Memphis, TN ....................Gene Rench (901) 544-0411Slidell, LA...........................Pat Brown (985) 649-0357Mobile, AL..........................Keith Williams (251) 633-6443

Legend: Jackson | Memphis, TN| Slidell, LA| Mobile, AL

flood awareness 2011

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