by

George Wetzel/Mark Walton/Randall Graham

HMT – WarnGen Focal Point/Hydrologist/SOO

WFO Grand Rapids, Michigan

Dam Break WarnGen Templates

WFO Grand Rapids, Michigan

• HSA includes 23 counties in Southwest Lower Michigan.

• HSA includes 291 dams ranging in height from only several feet to 100 feet.

• Of the 291 dams, 47 are classified as High Hazard, 81 Significant Hazard, and 163 Low Hazard dams.

Dam Break WarnGen Templates

• This is an example of a WarnGen Template menu showing a listing of the dams…

• A specific flash flood warning or flood watch can be generated for each dam on the list.

Dam Break WarnGen Templates

• This is an example of a WarnGen Template for a flood watch for a specific dam. To generate a flood watch highlight the following sections…

1st Option is to select if the watch is due to a potential structural problem or if it is due to high water flow…

2nd Option is to select who reported the problem…

3rd Option is to select the dam…

And finally…Create Text.

Dam Break WarnGen Product Example for a Flood Watch

• MIC081-182100-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTEDFLOOD WATCHNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI1104 AM EDT FRI OCT 18 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WATCH FOR THE THORNAPPLE RIVER BELOW THE ADA DAM IN KENT COUNTY

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT

* AT 1101 AM EDT COUNTY DISPATCH REPORTED THAT THE ADA DAM ON THE THORNAPPLE RIVER WAS APPROACHING CAPACITY DUE TO HIGH WATER FLOWS.

* THE NEAREST DOWNSTREAM TOWN IS ADA...LOCATED 1/4 MILE FROM THE DAM.PEOPLE IN THE LOW LYING AREAS BELOW ADA DAM SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OFTHE SITUATION AND STAY ALERT TO CHANGING CONDITIONS, INCLUDINGPOSSIBLE EVACUATIONS.

DAM SAFETY EXPERTS WITH STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES...AREMONITORING THE DAM AND WILL ISSUE A PUBLIC STATEMENT AS CONDITIONSWARRANT.

PLAN NOW SO YOU WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY. KEEP INFORMEDBY LISTENING TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR STATEMENTS ANDPOSSIBLE WARNINGS. FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS.

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS RAPIDLY RISING WATER OR FLASH FLOODING ISPOSSIBLE BUT NOT IMMINENT IN THE WATCH AREA. 

This is an example of a flood watch generated by the WarnGen template…

Dam Break WarnGen Templates

• This is an example of a WarnGen Template for a generic flood watch designed to handle any dam. To generate a generic flood watch highlight the following sections…

1st Option is to select if the watch is due to a potential structural problem or if it is due to high water flow…

2nd Option is to select who reported the problem…

And finally…Create Text.

Dam Break WarnGen Product Example for a Generic Flood Watch

MIC081-231900-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTEDFLOOD WATCHNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI904 AM EDT WED OCT 23 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WATCH FOR THE !** **! RIVER BELOW THE !** **! DAM IN !** **!COUNTY

* UNTIL 300 PM EDT

* AT 859 AM EDT COUNTY DISPATCH REPORTED THAT THE !** **! DAM ON THE !** **! RIVER HAS A POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL CONCERN.

* PEOPLE IN THE LOW LYING AREAS BELOW !** **! DAM SHOULD KEEP ABREASTOF THE SITUATION AND STAY ALERT TO CHANGING CONDITIONS, INCLUDINGPOSSIBLE EVACUATIONS.

DAM SAFETY EXPERTS WITH STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES...AREMONITORING THE DAM AND WILL ISSUE A PUBLIC STATEMENT AS CONDITIONSWARRANT.

PLAN NOW SO YOU WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY. KEEP INFORMEDBY LISTENING TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR STATEMENTS ANDPOSSIBLE WARNINGS. FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS.

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS RAPIDLY RISING WATER OR FLASH FLOODING ISPOSSIBLE BUT NOT IMMINENT IN THE WATCH AREA.

For the generic flood watch the forecaster fills in the blanks and then sends out the product…

Dam Break WarnGen Templates

• This is an example of a WarnGen Template for a flash flood warning for a dam. To generate a flash flood warning highlight the following sections…

1st Option is to select if the failure has occurred or is imminent…

2nd Option is to select who reported the failure…

3rd Option is to select the dam…

And finally…Create Text.

Dam Break WarnGen Product Example for a Flood Warning

MIC005-182145-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTEDFLASH FLOOD WARNINGNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI349 PM EDT FRI OCT 18 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR A DAM FAILURE ON THE KALAMAZOO RIVER BELOW THE ALLEGAN DAM IN ALLEGAN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

* UNTIL 545 PM EDT

* AT 347 PM EDT THE FAILURE OF THE ALLEGAN DAM ON THE KALAMAZOO RIVER WAS REPORTED BY COUNTY DISPATCH.

* IF YOU LIVE IN THE LOW LYING AREAS BELOW THE ALLEGAN DAM ON THEKALAMAZOO RIVER, INCLUDING PERSONS IN THE ALLEGAN STATE GAME AREA ANDNEW RICHMOND, YOU SHOULD MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. DONOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS. FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BEISSUED AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

This is an example of a flash flood warning generated by the WarnGen template…

So What’s the big deal?

• It allows for quick, efficient, and consistent issuance of flood watches and flash flood warnings for dams.

• This product has alleviated the problem of office personnel having to dig through emergency action plans and dam catalogs to issue a product that is maybe a once in a lifetime issuance.

• It was developed using customer feedback.• Products are reviewed each year during Emergency Action

Plan reviews with our customers.• These templates can easily be modified by other offices for

use in WarnGen.