Benefits of a Flood Warning Network to Findlay, OhioBrian C. Hurt, P.E. – Former City Engineer Findlay, Ohio

FAST FACTS OF FINDLAY, OHIO Located in Northwest Ohio 40 miles

from Toledo Population: 40,000 Contains Highest number of National

Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies in the State of Ohio

Approximately 1,500 properties inside FEMA Flood Hazard Area

RECENT SUMMARY OF FLOOD HISTORY Findlay has experienced 4 of its top 10

historical floods since August 2007

03/1913 18.50 ft. 1 Benchmark

03/2011 16.42 ft. 603/2009 15.41 ft. 902/2008 16.50 ft. 508/2007 18.46 ft. 206/1997 15.42 ft. 806/1981 17.43 ft. 302/1959 16.76 ft. 401/1959 16.10 ft. 712/1927 15.40 ft. 10

TOP 10 HISTORICAL CRESTS

FINDLAY’S FLOOD WARNING NETWORK

Addition of 4 new USGS Stream Gages (Oct. 2007)

All Gages have Precipitation Monitors

Inundation Mapping (Apr. 2009)

INUNDATION MAPPING

Funded through a Partnership between City of Findlay and USGS

USGS office in Columbus, OH completed all technical aspects of the mapping

National Weather Service host maps on their River Forecast Site for the Blanchard River at Findlay

INUNDATION MAPPING

INUNDATION MAPPING

INUNDATION MAPPING

INUNDATION MAPPING

BENEFITS OF A FLOOD WARNING NETWORK

August 2007 Flood• River Crested within

½ inch of the highest crest ever recorded

• Flood Warning Network was NOT in place

• Only one USGS stream gage existed at this time which was located DOWNSTREAM of Findlay

BENEFITS OF A FLOOD WARNING NETWORK

August 2007 Flood

• During the event there was no sure way to tell what the river was doing upstream

• NWS and Local officials did not have the information to properly predict an accurate crest

BENEFITS OF A FLOOD WARNING NETWORK

March 2011 Flood

• Findlay experienced 6th largest flood on Record

• 3rd Major Flood that occurred after the installation of the Flood Warning Network

• NWS used historical Data from new stream gages to aid in their river crest predictions

BENEFITS OF A FLOOD WARNING NETWORK

March 2011 Flood

• NWS predicted a 70% chance of major flooding 3 days before the event

• NWS predicted crest within 1 inch directly after the rain event

• Findlay Officials used a Reverse 911 system to notify residents of impending danger

BENEFITS OF A FLOOD WARNING NETWORK

March 2011 Flood• With early warning

residents sandbagged or moved valuables to higher ground

• Inundation Maps were used by Findlay Officials to direct residents around flood waters during the event

• A meaningful 3 day warning of major flooding was unprecedented in Findlay

BENEFITS OF A FLOOD WARNING NETWORK Early Warning is the Most Effective way

for Findlay to Limit Flood Damage Until a Corps of Engineers Flood Reduction Project is Implemented

THANK YOU.