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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
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