1. NWS Products and Procedures for Dam Breaks and Flood Events Steve Kruckenberg National Weather Service Forecast Office – Norman, OK

2. 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

3. 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.

4. NWS Offices with Forecast & Warning Responsibility in Oklahoma

5. NWS Norman Hydrologic Service 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.

7. 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)

8. NWS Norman Operations

10. NWS Norman Operations - Warngen

11. NWS Norman Operations- Flash Flood Warning Polygon

12. NWS Norman Operations

14. NWS Norman Communications- Graphicasts

16. NWS Norman Communications- Facebook

17. NWS Norman Communications- Twitter

18. 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)

19. Dam Break Procedures

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma Mid October 1923 Overholser Dam Break

24. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma April 3-4,1934 Hammon Flash Flood

25. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma April 13-14,1945 Wewoka Dam Break

26. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma Mid May 1957 Rainfall & Flood Event

27. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma October 17-23, 1983 Heavy Rainfall/Flood Event

28. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma September 28-October 3, 1986 Flood Event

29. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma August 19, 2007 Rainfall/Flood Event

30. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma April 19, 2007 Rainfall/Flood Event

31. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma June 14, 2010 OKC Metro Flash Flood

32. Historical Rainfall Events in Oklahoma May 31-June 1, 2013 Central Oklahoma Flash Flood