by hector guerrero wcm, nws san angelo, tx, chair of tffc and roy sedwick, co-chair of tffc, cfm ceo...
TRANSCRIPT
By Hector GuerreroWCM, NWS San Angelo, TX, Chair of TFFC
and Roy Sedwick, Co-Chair of TFFC, CFM
CEO of Texas Flood Plains Management AssociationNational Flood Workshop
Houston, Texas
The Texas Flash Flood Coalition
TFFC MotivationTFFC MotivationTFFC MotivationTFFC Motivation
Most fatalities occurred in flash flood alley
• 46 reported flood-related drownings in Texas (2007)
• Over two-thirds of these flood-related drownings were due to flash floods
• Over half of the flood-related drownings were vehicle-related
• Nearly 8 of 10 of these vehicle-related incidents occurred between 6 pm and 6 am
• Go beyond Turn Around…Don’t Drown ®Source: Data collected by the National Weather Service Forecast Office (Austin/San Antonio) and the Texas Floodplain Management Association; technical assistance provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Preliminary information through 10/5/2007.
Texas Flash Flood Coalition Texas Flash Flood Coalition MotivationMotivation
Texas Flash Flood Coalition Texas Flash Flood Coalition MotivationMotivation
Expanding TADD
TFFC Stake HoldersTFFC Stake Holders
• Area TV Broadcasters• Cities of Austin, Bastrop, Houston, Round Rock, San
Marcos, San Antonio, Llano, San Saba, and more• Council of Governments--CAPCOG • Texas Department of State Health Services• DPS and Texas Division of Emergency Management • Emergency Management Officials from Austin, Bastrop,
Round Rock, San Antonio, Travis County and more• Harris County Flood Control District• LCRA and SARA• Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)
TFFC Stake HoldersTFFC Stake Holders
• NWS Offices in Texas and The West Gulf River Forecast Center
• National Weather Service Southern Region• Texas Department of Transportation• Texas Flood Plain Management Association • Texas State University and Texas A&M• University of Texas at Austin and San Antonio• URS Corporation• USGS and more organizations • Texas Association of Counties__________________________ Over 25 Public and Private Organizations
IFFL
Technology Team
Education and
Awareness Team
Warning and Communication
Team
Research Team
Commuter Preparedness
Team
The Texas Flash Flood Coalition (TFFC) serves as the comprehensive flood resource council for the prevention of flooding injuries and deaths; to prepare Texans for adverse flash flood events; to make recommendations to stakeholders to promote relevant research, education and communications that will save
the lives and property of Texans.
MissionMissionMissionMission
Research
• Dr. Hatim Sharif, UTSA completed an in depth study of all flood and flash flood fatalities for Texas from 1959 to 2008 primarily using NCDC Storm Data.
Photo By: Larry Kolvoord – American Statesman
How does Texas compare?Rank State Fatalities Rank State Fatalities
1 Texas 840 26 Illinois 56
2 Pennsylvania 265 27 Kansas 55
3 California 246 28 Minnesota 55
4 South Dakota 244 29 New Jersey 50
5 Virginia 237 30 Iowa 47
6 Colorado 185 31 Montana 45
7 Missouri 174 32 Oregon 45
8 Mississippi 172 33 Washington 39
9 North Carolina 155 34 Michigan 31
10 Wisconsin 149 35 Nevada 29
11 Ohio 147 36 Utah 26
12 Kentucky 144 37 North Dakota 15
13 New York 134 38 West Virginia 15
14 Tennessee 131 39 Connecticut 14
15 Arkansas 129 40 Delaware 14
16 Georgia 120 41 Nebraska 14
17 Oklahoma 110 42 Wyoming 14
18 Louisiana 101 43 Maine 13
19 Maryland 101 44 New Hampshire 13
20 Arizona 86 45 Vermont 11
21 Indiana 79 46 Massachusetts 7
22 Florida 75 47 District of Columbia 4
23 Alabama 68 48 Idaho 4
24 New Mexico 68 49 Rhode Island 0
25 South Carolina 64
Flood fatalities for the 48 conterminous states and District Columbia for the 1959-2008 period. Hurricane Katrina fatalities are not included
Flood Fatalities by County1959-2008
Flood fatalities by age (NCDC Storm Data)
Flood fatalities by flood type
Rain15%
Flood30%
Flash Flood50%
Flooding due to
Tropical System
5%
Flood fatalities by category (NCDC Storm Data 1959-08)
Time of Day 1959-08
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
12AM-6AM 6AM-12PM 12PM-6PM 6PM-12AM
NCDC
DSHS
Flood fatalities by time of day (NCDC Storm Data 1959-08)
International Flash Flood Laboratory
• Laboratory focus’ on social science and geo science • Held first workshop in 2009 and IFFL developed
findings on cost of swift water rescues • Unfortunately funding ended for IFFL at Texas State
University – San Marcos, TX in August• IFFL has been relocated to University of The
Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX
Dr. Pam Showalter’s Spring 2010 Upper Division Undergraduate Research
Only four Fire Departments provided cost estimate
Range: $450-$3500/hour (depends of complexity of rescue)
Average cost = $1975Assume each rescue takes 3 hours
Result: 2007 “Flash Flood Alley” SWRs cost ~$4,544,000
Not including expenditures by other public service personnel(e.g., police, life flights, etc.)
Dr. Pam Showlater and her students
• TADD Poster Contest• City of Austin, NWS,
Austin American Statesman and the TFMA
Flash Flood Education
Flash Flood Education
• Texas Flood Plains Management Association is trying to bring a flash flood educational curriculum that has been established in Oklahoma to the State of Texas.
FEMA Grant to LCRA and TFMA Grant
FEMA Grant to LCRA and TFMA Grant
Radio Advertising• Short-notice advertising
– Notice by 10 a.m., 5 stations, 15-second spot, – Started running ads at 2 p.m. September 7– Night-time ads cost as little as $5 per spot– Spanish version on top Spanish station
• Traditional educational campaign– Three weeks of advertising on 4 radio stations– Included print and online ads
• Used firefighter for spokesperson
Did it Work?
• Short Notice Ads - 120,000 adults heard ad 3 times• Spent $3,200
– Traditional Radio Ads - 600,000 adults heard ad 2 to 3 times
• One fatality in Austin• 7 swift water rescues in Austin
Print and Online Advertising
Commuter Preparedness TeamCommuter Preparedness Team• Inventory Low water crossings• Inventory Low water crossings
Commuter Preparedness TeamCommuter Preparedness Team
• Inventory Low water crossings• Rank, find ones most dangerous• Map (like a traffic map)• Find website to host map
• Inventory Low water crossings• Rank, find ones most dangerous• Map (like a traffic map)• Find website to host map
Low Water Crossings in Texas by Melinda Luna, TNRIS
None Identified
As of : 10-18-2010
Warning and Communications
• Dr. Fredrico Subervi of Texas State University will host a workshop on November 5, 2010 to enhance emergency communication strategies.
Flash Flood Technology
• Dr. David Maidment, Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Director Center for Research in Water Resources– Held two TFFC Flash Flood Technology Workshops
in Austin this past year to brainstorm ways to develop a technological tool for flash flood situational awareness
– Dr. Maidment is also presenting this exciting new information at this workshop
Situational Awareness for Flash Flooding
By David R. MaidmentDirector, Center for Research in Water Resources
Cockrell School of EngineeringUniversity of Texas at Austin
Texas Flash Flood Coalition, TFMA Conference,San Marcos, Texas, October 14, 2010
Best Practices
• San Antonio SAFE Program• City of Austin Poster Contest• City of Austin Flood Warning
San Antonio SAFE ProgramSan Antonio SAFE ProgramSan Antonio SAFE ProgramSan Antonio SAFE Program
www.safloodsafe.com
• TADD Poster Contest• City of Austin, NWS,
Austin American Statesman and the TFMA
City of Austin Poster Contest
TxDOT Dynamic Messaging TxDOT Dynamic Messaging Signs Signs
TxDOT Dynamic Messaging TxDOT Dynamic Messaging Signs Signs
• Review warning text to make it more direct, clear and immediate
• TxDOT Dynamic Messaging Signs display’s Turn Around Don’t Drown during times of significant, life threatening flooding across Texas
Flood Warning in AustinCan I take this road home? Is my house going to flood?
Using Predictive Modeling and MappingFlood Early Warning System
Susan Janek, P.E., CFMJanna Renfro, P.E., CFM
