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Mississippi Valley Division

2012 Flood Preparedness Reference Guide

30 March 2012

Purpose of this Document: 

• This document describes the results of the MVD Regional 2012 Flood Season Preparedness 

effort and explains how to access the tools and products recently completed to improve 

communication and understanding of current Mississippi River system risks.

Purpose of Preparedness Effort: 

• The preparedness effort was implemented to complete priority activities prior to the next 

flood season (30 March 2012) to manage and mitigate risks caused by 2011 flood damages to 

the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) Project and other Mississippi River Flood Risk 

Reduction Projects. This regional effort identified key risks within the MR&T, how risks are 

being addressed, and effectively communicates this information to partners and stakeholders.

Background: 

• USACE HQ supported Mississippi Valley Division in moving forward with regional flood season 

preparedness due to the damaged state of the system and elevated risk to life safety

• IRTF and other emergency management partners clearly expressed support for this effort 

• This initiative builds on prior work done through the MR&T Damage Assessment Reports, the 

prior System Performance Evaluation, and District preparedness efforts already underway

• The preparedness effort was advanced as a coordinated system approach focused on three key 

aspects of flood season preparedness including Risk Identification, Risk Management, and Risk 

Communication
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RISK IDENTIFICATION

(Attachment A: Risk Identification Products)

• Preparedness efforts focusing on risk identification were implemented to clearly identify and 

communicate the elevated risks caused by 2011 flood damages to the system. These efforts 

produced regionally consistent tools and products that effectively convey Risk (including both 

probability and consequence of failure). 

• Products and Tools: 

Information Papers

o Risk Information Papers provide details on risks and potential consequences at 

damaged system locations. 

o Product Access: These regionally consistent documents can be accessed through 

CorpsMap at the following link (see CorpsMap Brochure as well): 

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/PublicAffairsOffice/FRMP/floodseason.htm

Sub-System Risk Documents

o Sub-system Risk Documents provide details on elevated risks associated with a levee 

sub-system. The 3-4 page standardized documents include a map, table and text 

discussing and comparing risks of all damaged locations within the sub-system. These 

documents were prepared for the following locations:

Memphis District

1. Mississippi & Ohio River Levee at Cairo and Vicinity

2. Combined Levees from Near Cape Girardeau, MO to Marianna, AR 

3. Hickman, KY - Obion Levee

4. Birds Point New Madrid Floodway Levee System 

Vicksburg District

5. AR-LA Mississippi River Levee System

6. East Bank Mississippi River Levee and the Yazoo Backwater West Levee

New Orleans District

7. Mississippi River East Bank Levee System

8. St. Bernard Polder Levee System

9. Belle Chasse Polder Levee System

10. Mississippi River West Bank - Above Old River Levee System

11. Wax Lake West Levee System

12. Mississippi River West Bank - Below Morganza Levee System

13. Westwego/Harvey/Algiers Levee System

o Product Access: The sub-system documents and supporting risk information can be 

requested through the appropriate USACE District.
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Inundation Maps

o Regionally standardized inundation maps displaying potential timing, depth, and 

consequence of inundation were prepared for eight high risk areas in the Mississippi 

River Valley including:

St. Paul District

1. Souris River

St. Louis District

2. Len Small

3. Cairo

Memphis District

4. Fulton County

Vicksburg District

5. Francis

6. Wilson Point

7. Winterville

8. Tara

o A regional team is also poised to quickly prepare these standardized maps as needed. 

o Product Access: A standardized regional method of distributing this information is 

currently under development, however, hard copy maps and other supporting 

inundation information are available by request through the appropriate USACE 

District. 

RISK MANAGEMENT

(Attachment B: Risk Management Products)

• Preparedness efforts focused on risk management were implemented to develop and share 

information about how system risks were being addressed (e.g., through construction efforts) 

and what risks remain. 

• Products and Tools: 

Risk Management Information Papers

o Flood Risk Management Information Papers describe how risks at damaged locations 

are being addresses through construction, interim measures, and flood fight 

preparation. The information paper is formatted into one easy to digest page 

describing the status of risk management efforts prior to this upcoming flood season. It 

also identifies mobilization activation stages and has a link to the NWS site for current 

stage forecasts.

o Product Access: These regionally consistent documents were developed for 45 highrisk locations and can be accessed through CorpsMap at the following link (see 
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CorpsMap Brochure as well): 

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/PublicAffairsOffice/FRMP/floodseason.htm

Flood Season Preparedness and Emergency Response Summary Report

o This document has been developed to capture in general terms, the efforts USACE has 

undertaken to manage and mitigate risks associated with the flood of 2011 and in 

preparation for the next flood event. It is intended to be used as a tool and in 

conjunction with other products produced under Operation Watershed Recovery (OWR) in an effort to communicate both internally and externally the risks which remain to 

the public in the wake of the 2011 flood event. 

o The document includes discussion of the 2011 flood, damages and immediate needs, 

recovery needs, interim plans for reservoir/floodway operations, and development of a 

regional risk communication plan and products.

o Product Access: This document will be distributed to IRTF partners for review on 29 

March and will be served through the MVD Flood Season Preparedness website after it 

becomes final: 

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/PublicAffairsOffice/FRMP/floodseason.htm

RISK COMMUNICATION

(Attachment C: Risk Communication Products)

• Preparedness efforts focused on improving risk communication were implemented to better 

prepare USACE and our partners for the upcoming flood season. Feedback from our partners 

and lessons learned from the 2011 flood event provided the team with ways to improve risk 

communication processes and products

• Products and Tools: 

Flood Season Preparedness Workshop

o A workshop was developed as part of this effort to advance regional communication 

and coordination of flood season preparedness between MVD, six Mississippi Valley 

Districts, Federal and State partners. 

o The workshop was broken into two primary sections which focused on: 

1. Mississippi Valley Regional Risk Overview - risk identification, management, and 

communication showcasing publically available regional tools, e.g., CorpsMap

2. District Case Studies - District overviews and specific examples of flood season 

preparedness for high risk areas in the system, showcasing best practices and 

lessons learned from the 2011 flood event 

o The workshop was well attended with over 80 participants and the net result was 

improved situational awareness and partners more fully understanding the current 

elevated risks on the system and how they can more effectively work with the Corps 

and public in addressing those risks.
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o Product Access: Workshop materials are available at the MVD Flood Season 

Preparedness website: 

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/PublicAffairsOffice/FRMP/floodseason.htm 

CorpsMap

o CorpsMap is being used to regionally serve several products through this preparedness 

effort in a GIS format that allows public users to quickly locate risk information via map 

queries. 

o Product Access: The public CorpsMap site can be accessed at the following location 

(see CorpsMap Brochure as well): 

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/PublicAffairsOffice/FRMP/floodseason.htm

Flood Seasons Preparedness Website

o An MVD Flood Season Preparedness website and brochures were developed to 

improve communication of regional risk communication products, tools and programs.

o Product Access: The website can be accessed at the following link: 

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/PublicAffairsOffice/FRMP/floodseason.htm

Flood Season Preparedness Risk Communication Plan

o A communication plan was developed to provide structure and guidance on how to 

best communicate system risks brought about by 2011 flood damages. This document 

focuses on effective internal and external communication processes with partners, 

stakeholders, and the public. 

o The plan includes a clearly laid out communication strategy and public affairs guidance 

for consistent risk communication across the region. 

o Product Access: The communication plan is being distributed as part of the Flood 

Season Preparedness and Emergency Response Summary Report. This document will be 

distributed to IRTF partners for review on 29 March and will be served through the 

MVD Flood Season Preparedness website after it becomes final: 

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/PublicAffairsOffice/FRMP/floodseason.htm
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Attachment A

Risk Identification Products
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RISK IDENTIFICATION: Risk Information Papers provide details on risks and potential 

consequences at damaged system locations. These regionally consistent documents are served 

and quickly accessible through the public CorpsMap site.
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RISK IDENTIFICATION: The Sub-system Risk Document provides details on the elevated risks 

associated with a levee sub-system. The 3-4 page document includes a map, table and text 

discussing and comparing risks of all damaged locations in the sub-system.
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RISK IDENTIFICATION: Regionally standardized Inundation Maps display potential timing, depth, 

consequences of inundation. These maps were prepared for eight high risk areas within the valley

this Spring. A regional team is also poised to quickly prepare these standardized maps as needed. 

A standardized regional method of distributing this information is currently under development.

A graphic example of the inundation map could not be displayed in this document due to current 

guidance on distribution of this type of sensitive information. How to obtain hard copies of the 

inundation maps and supporting information is discussed in the beginning of this document.
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Attachment B

Risk Management Products
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RISK MANAGEMENT: Flood Risk Management Information Papers describe how risks at damaged

locations are being addresses through construction, interim measures, and flood fight preparation. 

It is formatted into one easy to digest page describing the status of risk management efforts prior 

to the upcoming flood season. The document will also identify mobilization activation stages and 

have a link to the NWS site for current stage forecasts. These documents are currently accessible 

through CorpsMap.
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RISK MANAGEMENT: A Flood Season Preparedness and Emergency Response Summary Report

was developed to provide a regional summary of how the elevated 2012 Mississippi River system 

risks are being addressed through construction, interim measures, flood fight activity, or modified 

operations. It includes explanation of priority activities which are underway in an effort to manage 

and mitigate risks caused by 2011 flood damages to the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) 

Project and other Flood Risk Reduction Projects prior to the next flood season (30 March 2012). 
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Attachment C

Risk Communication Products
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RISK COMMUNICATION: A Regional Flood Season Preparedness Workshop was developed as 

part of this effort to advance regional communication and coordination of flood season 

preparedness between MVD, six Mississippi Valley Districts, Federal and State partners.
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RISK COMMUNICATION: CorpsMap provides stakeholder and public access to regionally 

standardized risk maps and documents including risk information and risk management 

information papers. 
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RISK COMMUNICATION: A Flood Season Preparedness Website and Brochures were developed 

to improve communication of regional risk communication products, tools and programs.
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RISK COMMUNICATION: A Flood Season Preparedness Risk Communication Plan was developed 

to provide structure and guidance on how to best communicate system risks brought about by 

2011 flood damages. This document focuses on effective internal and external communication 

processes with partners, stakeholders, and the public.