# Presentation: 182757

- by
- George Wetzel/Mark Walton/Randall Graham
- HMT – WarnGen Focal Point/Hydrologist/SOO
- WFO Grand Rapids, Michigan

***Dam Break WarnGen Templates***

## WFO Grand Rapids, Michigan

- HSA includes 23 counties in Southwest Lower Michigan.
- HSA includes 291 dams ranging in height from only several feet to 100 feet.
- Of the 291 dams, 47 are classified as High Hazard, 81 Significant Hazard, and 163 Low Hazard dams.

## Dam Break WarnGen Templates

**This is an example of a WarnGen Template menu showing a listing of the dams...**
**A specific flash flood warning or flood watch can be generated for each dam on the list.**

## Dam Break WarnGen Templates

**This is an example of a WarnGen Template for a flood watch for a specific dam.  To generate a flood watch highlight the following sections...**

- 1st Option is to select if the watch is due to a potential structural  problem or if it is due to high water flow...
- 2nd Option is to select who reported the problem...
- 3rd Option is to select the dam...
- And finally...Create Text.

## Dam Break WarnGen Product Example for a Flood Watch

**MIC081-182100-****BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED****FLOOD WATCH****NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI****1104 AM EDT FRI OCT 18 2002****THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A***** FLOOD WATCH FOR THE THORNAPPLE RIVER BELOW THE ADA DAM IN KENT****  COUNTY***** UNTIL 500 PM EDT***** AT 1101 AM EDT COUNTY DISPATCH REPORTED THAT THE ADA DAM ON THE****  THORNAPPLE RIVER WAS APPROACHING CAPACITY DUE TO HIGH WATER FLOWS.***** THE NEAREST DOWNSTREAM TOWN IS ADA...LOCATED 1/4 MILE FROM THE DAM.****PEOPLE IN THE LOW LYING AREAS BELOW ADA DAM SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF****THE SITUATION AND STAY ALERT TO CHANGING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING****POSSIBLE EVACUATIONS.****DAM SAFETY EXPERTS WITH STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES...ARE****MONITORING THE DAM AND WILL ISSUE A PUBLIC STATEMENT AS CONDITIONS****WARRANT.****PLAN NOW SO YOU WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY. KEEP INFORMED****BY LISTENING TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR STATEMENTS AND****POSSIBLE WARNINGS. FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS.****A FLOOD WATCH MEANS RAPIDLY RISING WATER OR FLASH FLOODING IS****POSSIBLE BUT NOT IMMINENT IN THE WATCH AREA.**** **

**This is an example of a flood watch generated by the WarnGen template...**

## Dam Break WarnGen Templates

**This is an example of a WarnGen Template for a generic flood watch designed to handle any dam.  To generate a generic flood watch highlight the following sections...**

- 1st Option is to select if the watch is due to a potential structural  problem or if it is due to high water flow...

- 2nd Option is to select who reported the problem...

- And finally...Create Text.

## Dam Break WarnGen Product Example for a Generic Flood Watch

**MIC081-231900-****BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED****FLOOD WATCH****NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI****904 AM EDT WED OCT 23 2002****THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A***** FLOOD WATCH FOR THE !** **! RIVER BELOW THE !** **! DAM IN !** **!****COUNTY***** UNTIL 300 PM EDT***** AT 859 AM EDT COUNTY DISPATCH REPORTED THAT THE !** **! DAM ON THE****  !** **! RIVER HAS A POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL CONCERN.***** PEOPLE IN THE LOW LYING AREAS BELOW !** **! DAM SHOULD KEEP ABREAST****OF THE SITUATION AND STAY ALERT TO CHANGING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING****POSSIBLE EVACUATIONS.****DAM SAFETY EXPERTS WITH STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES...ARE****MONITORING THE DAM AND WILL ISSUE A PUBLIC STATEMENT AS CONDITIONS****WARRANT.****PLAN NOW SO YOU WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY. KEEP INFORMED****BY LISTENING TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR STATEMENTS AND****POSSIBLE WARNINGS. FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS.****A FLOOD WATCH MEANS RAPIDLY RISING WATER OR FLASH FLOODING IS****POSSIBLE BUT NOT IMMINENT IN THE WATCH AREA.**

**For the generic flood watch the forecaster fills in the blanks and then sends out the product...**

## Dam Break WarnGen Templates

**This is an example of a WarnGen Template for a flash flood warning for a dam.  To generate a flash flood warning highlight the following sections...**

- 1st Option is to select if the failure has occurred or is imminent...

- 2nd Option is to select who reported the failure...

- 3rd Option is to select the dam...

- And finally...Create Text.

## Dam Break WarnGen Product Example for a Flood Warning

**MIC005-182145-****BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED****FLASH FLOOD WARNING****NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI****349 PM EDT FRI OCT 18 2002****THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A***** FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR A DAM FAILURE ON THE KALAMAZOO RIVER**
**  ****BELOW THE ALLEGAN DAM IN ALLEGAN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN***** UNTIL 545 PM EDT***** AT 347 PM EDT THE FAILURE OF THE ALLEGAN DAM ON THE KALAMAZOO RIVER****  WAS REPORTED BY COUNTY DISPATCH.***** IF YOU LIVE IN THE LOW LYING AREAS BELOW THE ALLEGAN DAM ON THE****KALAMAZOO RIVER, INCLUDING PERSONS IN THE ALLEGAN STATE GAME AREA AND****NEW RICHMOND, YOU SHOULD MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.****FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. DO****NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS. FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE****ISSUED AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.**

**This is an example of a flash flood warning generated by the WarnGen template...**

## So What’s the big deal?

- It allows for *quick*, *efficient*, and *consistent* issuance of flood watches and flash flood warnings for dams.
- This product has alleviated the problem of office personnel having to dig through emergency action plans and dam catalogs to issue a product that is maybe a once in a lifetime issuance.
- It was developed using customer feedback.
- Products are reviewed each year during Emergency Action Plan reviews with our customers.
- These templates can easily be modified by other offices for use in WarnGen.