![]() ![]() If you are interested in developing a responsive flood warning system without advanced forecasting capabilities, however, you can likely get by with a system based on Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time, or ALERT gages. These models are based on records of stream stage and discharge, the calculations for which are outlined below. will respond to varying levels of rainfall and snowmelt. The NWS forecasts floods using complex mathematical models that predict how rivers and streams across the U.S. The NWS acknowledges that, even in areas where they provide flood warning coverage, a real-time, community-oriented flood warning system can reduce risks involved with flooding. This can be done through routine monitoring, in which operating personnel make visits to stream gage and precipitation measuring sites, but a real-time monitoring system with telemetry can make data collection easier - and in many cases, more cost-effective - while allowing for the fastest possible response to a flood event. When it comes to the installation and maintenance of gages, sensors, and other equipment, Fondriest Environmental can help you through every step of the process.Īn effective flood warning system should be based on the regular collection of local rainfall, stream level, and streamflow data. A flood warning system need not be expensive or overly complicated, and the benefits - protecting lives and property - far outweigh any potential complications or inconveniences. In communities that lack a flood warning program, but are interested in developing their own, the NWS can provide further guidance and technical support, as well as outreach and education to involved parties and community leadership. In the U.S., these alerts are distributed in Specific Area Message Encoding through the Emergency Alert System and the NOAA Weather Radio network. They may also be issued as an update to previous warning and watch alerts. Those alerts are divided into several basic categories:įlood watches are issued when conditions suggest a possibility of flooding, or if flooding is anticipated within 12-48 hours.įlood warnings are more severe, and are issued if widespread flooding is expected across a large region, or if flooding is imminent or actively taking place.įlash flood watches and warnings follow the same protocol, but indicate potential for especially rapid flooding, usually from heavy rain or dam failure.įlood statements are issued when flooding is expected along major streams where people and property are not threatened. Generally speaking, the NWS issues flood alerts either on a county basis, or for particular rivers and streams. The NWS uses those data and data from other sources to issue river forecasts and flood alerts. Specifically, the USGS acts as the principal source on surface and groundwater data, and operates more than 85 percent of stream gaging stations in the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service - part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - work together to maintain flood warning systems across the country. This guide offers instruction to individuals, communities, and organizations interested in establishing and operating flood warning systems. Of course, the most effective flood warning methods extend beyond the installation of gages and telemetry equipment, and employ qualified staff and carefully designed procedures to provide the earliest warning about whether a flood should be expected, when it will occur, and how severe it will be. While some areas are more prone to flooding than others, the establishment of flood warning systems near any major waterway or body of water provides critical information that can protect property and save lives. ![]()
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