1. An Introduction to Storm Surge, the NWS SLOSH Model, and SLOSH Based Products
Jamie R. Rhome
Storm Surge Specialist/Team Lead
National Hurricane Center, Miami, Fl
Since its birth, the United States has lost over 25,000 people to tropical cyclones, most of which were attributable to storm surge. Every decade from the 1890's through the 1960's had at least one storm in which surge took hundreds or thousands of lives. More recently, Hurricane Katrina killed an estimated 1500 persons. The need for highly accurate storm surge information and products aimed at significantly reducing loss of life and promoting optimally resilient coastal communities has never been greater. This session will focus on current National Weather Service tools and products and how to best use these products for sound decision-making.
Topics will include:
Introduction to Storm Surge
-Definition of storm surge/storm tide/total water
-Storm Surge Impacts
-Measuring storm surge
-Available observations, limitation, applications
-Vertical datums
-Factors impacting storm surge
Forecasting Storm Surge
-Introduction to SLOSH
-SLOSH storm surge products
-NHC storm surge operations
SLOSH Display Program
-Instruction on how to obtain and install the SLOSH Display Program (SDP)
-Demonstration of SDP capabilities
2. Floodplain Management Introduction for Community Officials, Engineers, Meteorologists, and Surveyors
John Grounds
Grounds Anderson LLC, Houston, TX
Community Officials, Engineers, Meteorologists, and Surveyors will gain an understanding of the National Flood Insurance Program and how it relates to protecting lives and property, development regulations, and mitigating impacts from a flood disaster.
Topics will include:
Texas and Federal Laws and the NFIP
Map Reading and Flood Insurance Studies
Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
Variances and NFIP Requirements
Community Assistance Visits (CAV’s)
No Adverse Impact
Community Rating System (CRS)
Elevation Certificates
FEMA Map Amendments and Revisions
Reasonably Safe from Flooding
Substantial Improvements and Damages
Flood Proofing and Flood Resistant Materials
“No Rise” Certifications to comply with 44 CFR 60.3d
3. Hurricane Impacts for Inland Communities
Greg Shelton
West Gulf River Forecast Center, Ft. Worth, TX
The Hurricane Impacts for Inland Communities course is a half day course discussing the inland hazards from tropical systems, highlighting the inland flood threat. This course covers the environmental and physical factors that can lead to excessive inland rainfall from tropical systems. Knowledge of these factors can be utilized ahead of land falling tropical systems to prepare for potential significant flooding for inland communities. In addition, a review of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) will be given. The NWS AHPS web portal hosts its vital river and flood forecast information, and can be used as a resource during the preparedness, response and recovery phases of a disaster. Instructors involved in this course would be from the National Weather Service and experience emergency managers. The course is aimed at the local inland emergency manager to build their capacity to prepare and respond to tropical system and their associated inland impacts.
4. Retrofitting Floodprone
Residential and Non-residential Structures
Wallace A. Wilson, PE, CFM
W. A. Wilson Consulting Services, LLC, Williamston, MI
This is a two-hour to three-hour workshop that is directed to the property owners, community officials and consultants or others engaged in the building construction industry.
The initial part of the work shop would cover a quick summary of flooding background issues, including the National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA’s role in that as well as their role in floodproofing flood prone structures. The floodproofing aspects of the workshop would cover all of the various approaches to floodproofing with examples and case studies of both residential and non-residential structures.