Upgraded Flood Warning Network

FOR RELEASE:  November 30, 2010

FOR INFORMATION:  Ron Bartel, Director, Division of Resource Management

                                    Faith Eidse, Public Information Specialist

District Accepts $305,000 to Expand Flood Warning Network

Havana, FL—The Panhandle will receive additional flood and storm surge protection following a grant approved by the Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board this week.  The board approved a $406,000 project, which includes a $305,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to enhance the District’s flood and storm surge warning network.  Project funding will also be provided by the District, Leon County and the City of Tallahassee. 

The network records and transmits continual, real-time rainfall, water level and stream flow data.  Emergency managers, local officials and the public will be able to access the data online and evaluate impending flood conditions and the potential for additional emergency measures. 

“This data is critical in determining exactly when certain bridges, roads and neighborhoods will flood, and will improve public safety during major storm events,” said District Executive Director Douglas Barr.  “Emergency managers can decide which roads to close and issue advance warnings so that people have time to protect property and leave the area.  It will also help local officials coordinate evacuation of the elderly, disabled or people who have difficulty getting out.”

“In late March and early April 2009, a series of low pressure systems moving through the Florida Panhandle and Big-Bend regions caused severe thunderstorms and flooding,” said Ron Bartel, Director of the Division of Resource Management.   “As a result, federal funds were made available through Florida’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to provide additional flood warning capability in the Panhandle.  The District discussed problem areas with emergency managers and local officials to prioritize upgrading existing sites to real-time reporting capability, or to install new monitoring stations.”

Residents of flood-prone areas will have additional information about storm conditions, which will improve safety and reduce property loss.  This will be done through the addition of 33 real-time hydrologic monitoring stations in Jefferson, Leon, Wakulla, Franklin, Gulf, Bay and Calhoun counties.  Of the proposed sites, 21 are located at monitoring stations that will be upgraded to real-time data collection and 12 will be sited at new locations.   

Monitoring information will be available at the District’s website, http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/pubsdata/hydrologicdata.html  and the Leon County website, http://www.cafwn.org/ .   The data will also provide hydrologists and engineers with benefits beyond flood warning.  For instance, many streams and drainage basins have delayed responses to rainfall events.  A historical record provides data to analyze long term conditions and predict flood conditions with greater accuracy.  Also, the District, the City of Tallahassee and Leon County use these records to design stormwater drainage improvements that significantly reduce flooding and improve water quality. 

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