NWS Productsand Procedures

for Dam Breaks and Flood Events

Steve Kruckenberg

National Weather Service Forecast Office – Norman, OK

Presentation Outline• NWS Mission• NWS offices with forecast/warning responsibility

in Oklahoma• Forms of NWS Communication

– NWS Products related to dam breaks & flash flooding– Graphicasts– Facebook– Twitter

• NWS procedures before and during dam break/flash flood events

• NWS participation in dam break exercises (past and future)

• Brief review of some past heavy rainfall events

National Weather Service Mission

The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.

NWS Offices with Forecast & Warning Responsibility in Oklahoma

NWS Norman HydrologicService Area (HSA)

• 48 counties in central/western Oklahoma and 8 counties in western North Texas

• Major rivers: Cimarron, North Canadian, Canadian, Washita, Red and Brazos rivers

• Other rivers and creeks include the Salt Fork Arkansas River, Kingfisher Creek, Uncle John Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Little River, North Forth Red River, Salt Fork Red River, Elm Fork of North Forth Red River, East Cache Creek, Deep Red Creek, Beaver Creek (Waurika), Blue River, Clear Boggy Creek, Muddy Boggy Creek, etc.

NWS Communications-Hydrologic Products

• Flash Flood/Flood Watches• Flood Potential Outlook• Flash/Flood Warnings & Statements• Flood Warnings & Statements

– River forecast points– Areal flooding

• Urban/Small Stream Flood Advisories• Hydrologic Statements• Civil Emergency Messages (dam break)

NWS Norman Operations

NWS Norman Operations

NWS Norman Operations - Warngen

NWS Norman Operations-Flash Flood Warning Polygon

NWS Norman Operations

NWS Norman Operations

NWS Norman Communications- Graphicasts

NWS Norman Communications- Graphicasts

NWS Norman Communications- Facebook

NWS Norman Communications- Twitter

Dam Break Procedures• Document the Report

– Use dam break report log to obtain info actual or potential dam failure.

•  Confirm the Report– From the owner of the dam, emergency manager, local law enforcement, etc.

 • Issue the Appropriate Initial Product

– Determine the appropriate product to issue.• Flash Flood Warning (FFW) • Flash Flood Watch (FFA)• Civil Emergency Message (CEM)

 • Make Contacts

– After issuance of the initial product, the following persons should be contacted in the order listed below:

• Meteorologist in Charge (MIC) or acting MIC, and Service Hydrologist• Supporting River Forecast Center (Tulsa, OK)• Adjacent Forecast Offices• Southern Region Headquarters (SRH) Regional Operations Center (ROC)

Dam Break Procedures

NWS Norman Dam Break/EAP Activities

• Emergency Action Plans (EAPs)– USBR

• Altus Dam (Lake Lugert)• Arbuckle Dam (Lake of the Arbuckles)• Fort Cobb Dam (Fort Cobb Lake)• Foss Dam (Foss Lake)• McGee Creek Dam (McGee Creek Lake)• Mountain Park Dam (Tom Steed Lake)• Norman Dam (Lake Thunderbird)

– Tabletop or functional exercises are conducted every 3 years by the USBR.

NWS Norman Dam Break/EAP Activities

• Emergency Action Plans (EAPs)

– U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (5 dams in the Wichita Mountains WLR• Comanche Dam• Grama Dam• Lake Rush Dam• Lake Elmer Thomas Dam• Lake Jed Johnson Dam

– Tabletop exercises are conducted every 6 years.

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaMid October 1923 Overholser Dam Break

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaMid October 1923 Overholser Dam Break

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaApril 3-4,1934 Hammon Flash Flood

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaApril 13-14,1945 Wewoka Dam Break

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaMid May 1957 Rainfall & Flood Event

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaOctober 17-23, 1983 Heavy Rainfall/Flood Event

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaSeptember 28-October 3, 1986 Flood Event

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaAugust 19, 2007 Rainfall/Flood Event

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaApril 19, 2007 Rainfall/Flood Event

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaJune 14, 2010 OKC Metro Flash Flood

Historical Rainfall Events in OklahomaMay 31-June 1, 2013 Central Oklahoma Flash Flood