Operation Watershed 

Responding to the Historic Mississippi River Flood of 20Responding to the Historic Mississippi River Flood of 20Overview PresentationScott WhitneyMVD REGIONAL FLOOD RISK MANAGERNovember 2012US Army Corps of EngineersBUILDING STRONG

®
Presentation Outline

ACT I: MR&T & THE 2011 FLOOD: Facts and FACT II: OPERATION WATERSHED: Response a

1) Organizational Structure2) Damage Assessments and Documentation Damage Assessments and Documentation3) Data Management4

) Post Flood Re

port

5) Repair/Recovery Status

ACT III: RISK COMMUNICATION STRATEGY ACT III: RISK COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

(1) Regional Communication Plan(2) Interagency Recovery Task Force(3) Flood Preparedness(4) Tools and Products 

2
The United States is at Ris

 Flooding is the 

hazard in the n

 Consequences 

Consequences 

• Loss of Life• Loss of bus• Property da

Property da

• Infrastructu• Environme• $$$ Recove

$$$ Recove

 Flood events are getting more

A NATION AT RISK: Throughout 

Flood events are getting more existing and new development are l

extreme and frequent

 Need to break cycle of damageexisting and new development are l

prone areas, often behind aging and flood risk management infrastructur

information available on the extent 

repai

r-damage-repai

r

 Flood Risk Management is a 

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY!

information available on the extent 

potential future flood risks and a wiunderstanding of flood risks by the m

a

k

e

rs.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY! a e s.
Mississippi River Mississippi River Waters

Waters

World’s 3 World’s

3rd Largest rd Largest

Drainage basin for 41% of the United 
ACT ONE:

MR&T & THE 2011 FL

Facts and Figures

5
Mississippi River & Tributaries 

 Most comprehensive and Succ

system in the world.

Levees

 Comprised of Levees, Channe

Stabilization, Tributary improv

Channel stabilization

Floodways

 35,000-square-mile flood plain $14 billion invested $612 billion in flood damages 

billion in flood damages 

 44 to 1 return on investment

Tributary improvements

 4.5 million people protected MR&T Project Currently 89% C

Floodways

6
26,000 Squa

500 Peo

ple K

325,000 Refu

7
8
Mississippi River & Tributaries 

ProDeFlo

9
MR&T Levees

• Backbone of the MR&T Backbone of the MR&T

• Extends from Cape Girardeau, MO 

to Venice, LA.

• Total of 3,787 miles of 

embankments and floodwalls. 

• 2,216 miles are main stem 

Mississippi River Levees 

• 1,571 miles are backwater, 

tributary, and floodway levees. tributary, and floodway levees.

• No project levee built to 

Mississippi River Commission 

standards has ever failed standards has ever failed

• Grade and section of the present 

levee system dwarfs by 

comparison those of the levee comparison those of the levee

system overwhelmed during the 1927 flood

T h l i ld il

• Technological advances in levee 

design and construction 10
Floodways and Backwater Area

Floodways

(1) Birds Point – 

133,000 acre133,000 acre

(2) Morganza Flo

71,500 acres

(3) Bonnet (3) Bonnet Carré 

7,600 acres

(4) West Atchafa

154,000 acre

Backwater Areas

(a) St. Francis Ba

500,000 acre

(b) White River B

145,000 acre

( ) c

) Yazoo Backw

634,000 acre

(d) Red River Ba

373,000 acre

11
Birds 

Birds 

New MNew M

Floo

 compl t d i 

le

t

e

d in 

operated in 1

 varies in widt

th 

hree to ten m

length of nea

 133,000 acres 

acres protect

 designed to d

from MR duri

 fuseplug leve

and lower en

explosives foexplosives fo

 operation of t

floodway is n

town or placetown or place

12
“CRITICAL LESSONS LEARNED AND APP

13
MR&T and 2011 Flood - Key M

• MR&T System performed as designed MR&T System performed as designed

with not a single life lost or acre of land flooded that was not intended 

• Many of our flood control and navigation 

systems remain in a state of vulnerability and risk due to damages incurred in 

2011 historic flooding

• Recovery efforts in full swing due to 

$1 724B funding from Disaster $1.724B funding from Disaster

Appropriations Act. Current plan is to have all repairs done by 2014.

• Will i t i il d d Will require ex

tra vigilance an

d a

dvance 

preparedness to ensure the safety and security of our citizens, infrastructure 

and industry and industry

• System-wide performance assessments 

reveal lessons-learned to be applied in 

14

preparation for and system reliability in future flood events. 
“Profiling Epic Flood Events

• Collabor• Consequ• Lessons • Collabor• Legacy D

Legacy D

15
ACT TWO

OPERATION WATERSH

Resp 

onse and Recover

16
Operation Watersh

Responding to the Historic Mississippi River Floo

RESPONSE OVERVIEW

Responding Responding to the Historic Historic Mississippi Mississippi River Floo

Current Ops

Plan & prepare to protect and 

preserve our neighbors safetypreserve our neighbors safety

and quality of life

Executive Future O

p

s

Execute the plan for safety of 

the citizens and the economic 

health of the nation

Oversight 

Recovery Ops

Repair/restore features of the 

s

ystem to set the sta

ge for 

y g

economic recovery and growth

17
Operation Watershed 

Current Operations (0 24hr

 Purpose: to provide real-time tracking of ongoing flood

weather and river forecasts for command decisions

Current Operations (0

-24hr

weather and river forecasts for command decisions

 How: Emergency Operations Center active 24-hr/d and 

Command Briefings every 12 hrs.

 Example format for command briefings:

► Weather conditions and forecasts► De

py g lo

yment of Flood Fi

ght Forces and Resources

► Water Control – Current and Projected River Stages and ► District Commander Briefings► Future Operations► Recovery Operations► FEMA Briefing► USGS Briefing► USCG Briefing► Media and Social Network Briefing► Safety and Security Briefings

18
Operation Watershed 

Future Operations (24+ hrs

 Purpose: Tactically and Strategically evaluate issues, c

d i i i i d di i lik l i 

Future Operations Operations (24+ hrs

decisions, contingencies an

d condi

tions lik

ely to occur in 

hours.

 How: Extensive internal and external coordination, com

Extensive internal and external coordination, com

and collaboration. Development of Tactical and Strategbased alternatives.

 Examples of some of the Future Ops activities:

► Contingency plans, inventories, contract capabilities, equipment, s

vendors in the case of a breach. 

► ERDC levee breach plugs staging for emergency deployment ► Levee breach scenarios and updated inundation maps reflecting t

crest projections

► Organizing Public meetings well in advance of crest► Interagency Coordination with USEPA, States, USGS and USCG

19
Operation Watershe

Recovery Operations Recovery Operations

 Purpose: Secure necessary interagency support and res

to efficiently and effectively restore functionality and levels to efficiently and effectively restore functionality and levels 

for damaged FRM systems, assess and document system and implement mitigation measures & system improveme

 How: Internal and External Collaboration and synchroniza

structured and timely damage assessment, design and co

 Examples of some of the Recovery Ops activities: Examples of some of the Recovery Ops activities:

► Damage Assessments Documentation► Interim vs Permanent Repairs► Replacement, rehabilitation or repair plans► NEPA requirements► Scope, schedule and budget► Risk assessments, preparedness and prioritization► National and Regional synchronization and sequencing► Interagency collaboration and communication► Post Flood System Performance Evaluation

20
The MVD 2011 Flood “War R

21
Operation Watershed Operation Watershed - Reco

Reco

Resp g pp ondin

g to the Historic Mississi to the Historic Mississippi River Flood of 20

i River Flood of 20

EVA

Post-Fl

Perf

ASSESS

Post-Flood System 

Condition

“Damages” System “De

Recovery

Interagency Recovery Interagency Recovery

“Quality of Life Quality of Life

” 2012 

Task Force

“Collaboration”

2012 

Prepar

“Risk 

REPAIR

Flood Damages to System

RESTO

Full Level of Syst

“Safety & Se

REPAIR

Initial Interim Measures

“Risk Reduction”
Operation Watersh

Responding to the Historic Mississippi River FlooResponding Responding to the Historic Historic Mississippi Mississippi River Floo

RECOVERY RECOVERY - MANAGEMENT STRUC

MANAGEMENT STRUC

MVD RCC EXECUTIVE STEERING EXECUTIVE STEERING US

GROUP

Eddie Belk Exte

Pe

US

REGIONAL 

MANAGEMENT

MVD - RCC

REGIONAL PROGRAM 

MANAGEMENT TEAM 

Scott Whitney

Pe

MANAGEMENT

BOARD(RMB)

DAMAGE 

ASSESSMENT 

IN

REC

SYSTEM 

PERFORMANCE 

EVALUATION TEAM OVERSIGHT TEAM 

DISTRICT DAMAGE 

ASSESSMENT PDTs SILV

DISTRICT PROGRAM MGMT TEAM

Project Repair PDTs

23
Operation Watersh

Responding to the Historic Mississippi River FlooResponding Responding to the Historic Historic Mississippi Mississippi River Floo

DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS ASSESSMENTS 

Damage Assessment Repo

(1) Ph i l d t ll ti 1) Physical d

a

ta collection 

(2) Historic perspective analys(2) Historic perspective analys() p p 3

) Re

pair o

ptions 

(4) District QA review(5) ROM Repair Cost

24
Risk 

Information

Paper

• POC’s• Overview• Damages• Consequences• Considerations• Prelim Schedule

25
2011 FLOOD DAMAGE RISK M

CRITICAL RE

High Class IIIb Class II Class II 

hood

Moderate Class IV Class IIIa Class II L Cl IV Cl III Cl III 

Likelih

Low Class IV Class IIIa Class IIIa 

aRemote Class IV Class IV Class IV ilure Remote Class IV Class IV Class IV 

Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 

Fa

Consequences

NON-CRITICAL REPAIRS

26
MVD 2011 MISS RIVER BASI

FLOOD DAMAGE REPAIR REQUIREM

EQUIREM

TOTAL ≈ 1.585 B

As of 1 Mar 2012

High Class IIIb Class II Class II 

ood CRITICAL RE

As of 1 Mar 2012

Moderate Class IV Class IIIa Class II 

keliho

NON- 143 Projects ≈ $1.0

CRITICAL

CRITICAL RE

Low Class IV Class IIIa Class IIIa 

lure LiCRITICAL REPAIRS

Remote Class IV Class IV Class IV 

Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 

Fail

262 Projects ≈ $543.2 millio

Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 

Consequences

P

27
Mississipp y i Valley Divisi

Requirements for 2011 MR Basin Flood 

As of 1 Mar 2012

District Impacts St. Paul

Critical

$ 12.2 M

Non-Critical

$ 0.7 M

As of 1 Mar 2012

 Rock Island St. Louis

$ 1.1 M

$ 10.9 M

$ 0.8 M$ 6.9 M

 Memphis Vicksburg N Ol

$ 283.8 M$ 125.4 M$ 608 5 M

$ 111.8 M$ 264.5 M

 New Orleans $ 158 7 M

 MVD Totals

$ 608.5 M

$ 1.042 B

$ 158.7 M$ 543.4 M

A th i d N ti id S l t l F di ( Authorized Nationwide Supplemental Funding ($1 724 B $1.724 B):

 Public Law 84-99 = $388M Mississippi River & Tributaries = $802M Operations & Maintenance = $534M

28
MVD DATA MANAGEMENT TEA

Key Accomplishments

• Made extensive contaMVD ith MVD with managers an

•Produced a catalog of 

describes flood data frodescribes flood data fro

2011 flood. Includes PO

•Produced a Digital Pre

Produced a Digital Pre

Handbook and accompmodule which was used 

employees of digital daemployees of digital da

practices.

•Delivered first-of-its-kind data assessment and review data for 

P t Fl d R t Post Flood Report.

•Delivered recommendations to improve data storage and shari

MR&T Post Flood ReportMR&T Post Flood Report.

29
Data Management - Next S

Inventory – Identify data/documents to preserve • Comple

Secure 

– Capture both printed and digital data • Complete at Di

Identify

– Catalo

g y and inventor

y individual data sources • Com

plete at Di

Store – Develop regional retrieval system for accessing data • Awaiting Fu

• Awaiting Fu

Access – Create open platform for retrieval system to share data with agencies

Archive – Develop and implement migration plan to ensure long-term survival • Awaiting Fu

Training – train districts on preservation methods to be used on their data • Comple

Report

– Complete Post Flood Report components and recommendations • Comple

Report

– Complete Post Flood Report components and recommendations • Comple

30
MR&T Post-Flood Report

Addresses primary questions:o How did the MR&T perform?o How could the MR&T perform now?o What does the MR&T need to perform in the future What does the MR&T need to perform in the future

?

Final Products (Oct-Nov 2012)

o

M

a epo t in repo

r

t

p o des a at e c a acte at o a d eco e 

r

ovides n

arrativ

e

c

h

a

racterization 

a

n

d recomm

e

the future operation, studies, performance and recovery of MR

o Appendices provide extensive datasets and support docume

will be useful to current and future MR&T operators and manawill be useful to current and future MR&T operators and mana

o Extensive regional database of Post Flood Data will be archi

Summary report will be glossy 30 50 pg executive overview

31

o Summary report will be glossy 30

-50 pg executive overview
OW-R Flood Damage Repai

R Flood Damage Repai

IMPLEMENTATION AND ACQUISITION STRATEGY

• Maximize System Risk Reduction by Next Flood Season• Substantially Complete all Remaining Items Prior to 2014 Flood S

Substantially Complete all Remaining Items Prior to 2014 Flood S

• MVD currently funded for roughly $1.2B in construction repairs

• Activities associated with ongoing design, coordination and con

Plans and Specifications Contract Documentation Advertisement & Plans and Specifications, Contract Documentation, Advertisement & 

Estate (LERRDs), Environmental Assessments, Tracking and Comm

32

32
Mississippi River Levee

BP-NM Center Crevasse (Aug 2011) BP-NM Center Crevass

Buck Chute (Nov 2011) Buck Chute (Ma

33
Mississippi River Levee

Duncan Point (June 2011) Duncan Point (Jun 2012)

34
CHANNEL IMPROVEME

Meriwether-Cherokee Bend – 16 Aug 2011 

Meriwether-Cherokee Bend – 2 

35
STRUCTURES

Morganza stilli b i (3 A 2011) tilling basin (3 Aug 2011) Morganza stilli b i (13 

tilling basin (13 

Morganza lower guide levee (15 Jul 2011) Morganza lower guide levee (16 Aug 

36
DREDGING

New Orleans – St. Louis Cathedral Bato

2011 Record Flood 2012 Record Dro

37
ACT THREE

RISK COMMUNICATION OMMUNICATION STRA

TRA

38
Regional Communication Pla

Operation Watershed Recovery/Operation Watershed Recovery/

The Regional Communication Strategy created a f

and guide for both the internal and external traR Flood Repair Plan information via CorpsMapt lki i t t ti l t

alking poin

ts, presen

t

ations, press releases, so

and website. It will also highlight some of the ke

participants and groups with whom regular co

and groups with whom regular co

is required (e.g. stakeholders, levee districts, coInteragency Recovery Task Force (IRTF), State 

managers...etc). It is important that this shared responsibility be well coordinated and controlour communications are responsive purposefuour communications are responsive, purposefu

consistent 

39
INTERAGENCY RECOVERY TASK 

40
INTERAGENCY RECOVERY TASK 

• A multi A multi-agency forum did not exist to solve the 

agency forum did not exist to solve the 

regional issues and challenges presented in threcovery from this historic flood event.

• Provide Safety and Security for Citizens Lives 

Livelihoods

• Create strong regional effort to inspect review 

Create strong regional effort to inspect, review

and restore our flood risk management system

• Pursue all p g otential funding methods from fede

state sources.

• Give consideration to traditional and non-tradit

alt ti i i d t ti lternatives in repair and restoration.

• Implement a collaborative and communicative 

approach across regional and state boundaries approach across regional and state boundaries 

prioritize our efforts and resources during the challenging recovery process

41
IRTF ANNUAL REPOR

• Purpose• M ti S 

Meeting Sum

• Products

• Lessons Lea• N S extteps

42
MVD 2012 Flood Season Prepare

 How do the 2011 flood damages  Which damaged sites are the m

Key Questions:

Which damaged sites are the m

 What are the potential conseque What is the plan for repairing da Wh t d d i th i t i ? Wh

a

t

do we 

do in the in

terim

?

 How do we best communicate th Regional and Local Flood Risk W

and Training exercises

Key Products:

and Training exercises

 Inundation maps, Risk Mgmt Pa

Interagency Collaboration

 R i l C i ti Pl W 

Regional Communication Plan, 

W

 Synopsis Report

43
MVD RFRM WEBSITE

 USACE RFRM Links, 

C dR ontacts an

d

Resources

 Public documents & 

presentations

 Key Messages O ti W t h d Operation 

Wa

ters

h

e

d

Recovery Components

 Public Partner and Public, Partner and

Stakeholder Accessibility

http://www mvd usace army milhttp://www.mvd.usace.army.mil

44
CORPSMAP

 External Web based site 

locator

 Pop-up wi d id n ow provides 

general overview of site specific flood damages 

and status of recovery.

 Provides access to project 

i f ti n ormation papers as well

as risk management and construction fact sheets

Vicksburg District 

OPERATION WATERSHED RECOVERY – CRITICAL REPAIR S

Contacts Kent Parrish, MVD Regional MRL Team Leader 

Ph. 601-631-5006 fax. 601-631-5151 Kent.D.Parrish@usace.army.mil 

Scott D. Whitney, MVD Regional Flood Risk Manager 

Ph. (309) 794-5386 fax (309) 794-5710 scott.d.whitney@usace.army.mil

Information 

Buc

 Describes interim risk 

management measures

OVERVIEW 

DISTRICT: Vicksburg District TYPE: Boils and Seepage

RM: RM 459.6 (110+00 BEL) FRAGO CLASS: 1 – High Potential for Loss of Life RISK: 3,996 residents, $188.5M infrastructure REPAIR: Berm, 30 Relief Wells, and 12 Horiz. drains EST. REPAIR COST: $2,640,000 Damage Assessment In early 2010, MVK was notified of multiple boils in the project area. In early summer of 2010, the boils were sandbagged as River Levels reached flood stage and the flow of the boils increased. In February, 2011, when conditions in the project area were dry, two of the largest boils were pumped, revealing voids at boil sources as wide as 20 ft and as deep as 10 ft. The voids revealed no obvious “pipes” that continued downward or laterally from the void bottom. As River levels continued to rise and approach flood stages in March 2011, the boil area voids were 

Figure 1. Aerial view of Buck Chute du

Critical Repairs The reset recommendation for this site reach of earthen berm 200 to 240 ft widfrom Station 106+50 to 123+50. A 400 berm includes a drainage and collection horizontal drains and a pervious sand laincludes 30 relief wells and 12 horizontberm volumes will be approximately 13sand for the drainage feature and 150,0remaining berm. Special Considerations The site is covered under the 1998 MR

L and covers multiple work items The 

backfilled with sand material, covered with a nonwoven 

filter fabric, and either sandbagged or earthen dams were constructed around them. In May 2011, an emergency berm was constructed over the area which encompassed the worst known boil areas. The top of the berm was constructed to approximate elevation 85.0 ft. Because of the high exit gradients for the predicted flood stages for the known boil areas, and the consequences of failure at this location, it was decided to flood the entire project site by raising water levels in Eagle Lake to approximate elevation 90.0 ft through the use of Muddy Bayou Control Structure. In order to reduce the risk of failure without raising water

levels in Eagle Lake, remediation is recommended prior to the next high water season. Risk and Consequence If the East Bank Mississippi River Levee System were to fail at the Buck Chute site, the population at risk would be 3,996. The value of the non-residential structures is $31,141,000, and the value of the 1,436 residential structures is $157,396,000.

L, and covers multiple work items. The 

planned relief wells for this site; howevprepared to cover these wells and a FOCoordination under Section 9 of the Enhas been completed. The 404 water quaproject has been obtained, and all projemitigated for, as this site is part of the emitigation program. This segment of Ecurrently certified, but this fix, along wcurrently has planned in the area, will athe levee system. The Board of MississCommissioners has acquired the necessproject. Schedule Bids solicited - 10 Aug 2011 Contract Awarded - 30 Aug 2011 Anticipated contract duration 120 dayscompletion in January 2012. Acquisition Strategy 

Unrestricted competitive bid awarded 3

http://www.mvd.usace.army.mil/ 

Unrestricted competitive bid awarded 3

Phylway Construction, LLC for $3,100was combined with No. 8 site, Alberma

45
INUNDATION MAPS

 Post Flood Report – Communication Te

► AARs, public meetings, and personal interviews► What did and didn’t happen to communicate the floo

before, during and after the event.

► Our partners want MAPS! Our partners want MAPS!

46
Example of Breach 

Inundation Maps Inundation Maps

Greenville, MS

• Communication

Contingency Plans

EXAMPLE

• Contingency Plans• Evacuations• Consequences• Life/Safety Risks• Infrastructure

47
SOCIAL MEDIA

 Use of social media: Facebook, Youtub

► Over 10,000 Facebook “friends” in three w► Immediate responses to questions, press r

links to other pages

48
Operation Watershed 

Resp g pp ondin

g to the Historic Mississi to the Historic Mississippi River Flood of 20

i River Flood of 20

Questions Questions

49