# Presentation: 534090

## COMPONENTS OF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM

- By Curtis Barrett
- NOAA National Weather Service, USA
- NOAA/WMO International  Flash Flood Workshop
- March 14, 2006

**Notes:**
Our hearts go out to people of southeast and southern Asia and Africa;  their needs are immediate and urgent and we are committed to helping in every way possible.

Tsunamis do not have a season and do not occur regularly or frequently. Yet they pose a major threat to the coastal populations of the Pacific and other world oceans and seas. Nothing can be done to prevent them, but the adverse impact on the loss of life and property can be reduced with proper planning.

The Tsunami Warning Program is a good fit for NOAA’s National Weather Service.  We are dedicated to protecting life and property and enhancing economic security through the prediction of weather, water, and climate-related events.  

## FORECASTS AND RESPONSE

**Data**

**Communication**

**Forecast**

**Decision**
**Support**

**Notification**

**Warn people**

**Actions**

- Collect hazard
- data

- Transmit Data
- To
- Forecast Center

- Forecast Tsunamis,
- Typhoons, Floods,droughts

- Warning

- Send Warning
- To
- Countries at risk

- Warnings to
- communities

- EVACUATION

**REGIONAL**** ****AND NATIONAL CENTERS**

***END TO END ALL HAZARDS FORECAST AND  WARNING***

- Integrated All Hazard forecasting, warning and response
- with Tsunami Warning system

**Notes:**
Indian Ocean Countries routinely suffer from floods, droughts, typhoons, and heat $ cold waves. Although catastrophic, Tsunami’s are not frequent threats to the Indian Ocean Region.

NOAA proposes to support the IOC Tsunami Warning System effort by building a multi-hazards forecast and warning system
That would provide countries with the ability to predict and warn communities at risk for the type of hazards that have the greatest impact on 
Threatening lives and property in the region.

This “All Hazards”  Warning and Response concept is the basis for the United States disaster mitigation program

NOAA proposes to assist the Meteorological, Hydrological and Emergency Response agencies in building a system that will
Warn residents of impending weather, water and climate events that threten life and property.

## Evaluate Existing System

**Determine weaknesses in existing components**
**Determine GAP between existing system and Desired system**
**Write Strategic Plan to Fill GAP**

## Build Hydromet Network

**Design river and rainfall network**
**Minimum,ideal**
**Consider satellite rainfall estimates**
**Radar ?**
**Use all hydromet data sources available- Seek Data partners**
**                                                  **

## Select/Implement Hydrologic Modeling System

Acquire historical  hydrometeorological data

Acquire GIS/Link to modeling system for calibration

Modeling system must be flexible to data availability 

**Acquire historical  hydrometeorological data**
**Acquire GIS/Link to modeling system for calibration**
**Modeling system must be flexible to data availability **

- Establishing a Flash Flood System

## Develop USER Partnerships

**User Requirements for Data are your requirements**
**Develop USER partnerships **
**USERS assist NMHS in developing plan**
**USERS lobby government to execute plan**

## Couple Meteorological Model To Hydrologic Modeling System - QPF extremely Important

Coordination between Meteorologist and Hydrologist imperative  to provide sufficient 

**Coordination between Meteorologist and Hydrologist imperative  to provide sufficient **

- It’s Hydrometeorology- Cooperate

## Forecasts Tailored to Users
Use visualization products to communicate impact

Disseminate Forecasts & Data to Users
Use mass media 
RANET, EMWIN

Apply Operations Concept

 Develop Capacity and Sustainability

**Use visualization products to communicate impact**
**Disseminate Forecasts & Data to Users**
**Use mass media **
**RANET, EMWIN**
**Apply Operations Concept**
** ****Develop Capacity and Sustainability**

- Establishing a Flash Flood System

## Capacity Building

- Training
**Hydrology**
**Meteorology**
**Computer System Administration**** **
- Cooperative Training/On-the-Job training
**Models,Data Systems,communications**
**Automated Flood Warning Systems**** **
- Other
**Workshops Seminars**
**University Training**

## SUMMARY

- Develop Strategic VISION  i.e. a plan
- Develop Partnerships with USERS
- (energy. Emergency services,media,transportation
- Costs vs Benefits calculated for network enhancement
- Make sure maintenance plans and funds included to assure sustainability
- Sell plan at every opportunity
- Have patience

## Flash Flood Hazards increasing...