TADD TADD High Water Mark High Water Mark

Signs Signs 44thth Regional Regional

Severe Severe Storms/Radar/Hydrology Storms/Radar/Hydrology

ConferenceConference

August 14, 2009August 14, 2009

Shreveport, LAShreveport, LA

Tracy HowiesonTracy Howieson

Southern Region HeadquartersSouthern Region Headquarters

tracy.howieson@noaa.govtracy.howieson@noaa.gov

Turn Around Don’t Turn Around Don’t Drown (TADD) Drown (TADD)

SignsSigns

WFO/RFC educate local communities on WFO/RFC educate local communities on TADD initiativeTADD initiative

TADD Signs purchased by local TADD Signs purchased by local community/countycommunity/county Available wherever they purchase DOT Available wherever they purchase DOT

approved road signs (i.e., Stop Signs, etc.)approved road signs (i.e., Stop Signs, etc.)

Raises Public Awareness of Flood Raises Public Awareness of Flood HazardsHazards

TADD Project GoalsTADD Project Goals

DOT Approved Road SignsDOT Approved Road Signs Sign Guidelines can be found at:Sign Guidelines can be found at:

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/SHSm/warning.pdf http://tadd.weather.gov/road_signs.shtml

Available Signs:Available Signs: Incident Sign (magenta)Incident Sign (magenta) Warning Sign (yellow)Warning Sign (yellow)

TADD SignsTADD Signs

Goal:Goal: Provide “seed” signs to WFO/RFC to Provide “seed” signs to WFO/RFC to

spark community interest in spark community interest in purchasing/displaying TADD signs.purchasing/displaying TADD signs.

100 TADD Signs Purchased100 TADD Signs Purchased 60 Signs Still Available60 Signs Still Available

Available at the request of WFO/RFCAvailable at the request of WFO/RFC

NWS-HQ TADD Sign NWS-HQ TADD Sign ProjectProject

To Obtain NWS-HQ TADD Signs:To Obtain NWS-HQ TADD Signs:◦ WFO/RFC coordinate with local community on WFO/RFC coordinate with local community on

potentially installing these signs potentially installing these signs

◦ WFO/RFC provide photos and documentation WFO/RFC provide photos and documentation of potential sign locationsof potential sign locations◦ Information posted to TADD ToolboxInformation posted to TADD Toolbox

◦ Success Stories and News from Across the CountrySuccess Stories and News from Across the Country

◦ WFO/RFC provide requested documentation to WFO/RFC provide requested documentation to NWS-HQNWS-HQ

◦ NWS-HQ will disseminate signs to WFO/RFC.NWS-HQ will disseminate signs to WFO/RFC.

◦ Signs available on a first come-first serve basisSigns available on a first come-first serve basis

NWS-HQ TADD Sign NWS-HQ TADD Sign ProjectProject

High Water Mark High Water Mark Sign ProjectSign Project

Goals of High Water Mark SignsGoals of High Water Mark Signs

Public Education and OutreachPublic Education and Outreach Commemorate historic floodsCommemorate historic floods Raise awareness of local flood risk Raise awareness of local flood risk

for newcomers and future for newcomers and future generationsgenerations

Provide information on where people Provide information on where people may learn more about local flood may learn more about local flood threatthreat

History of High Water Mark History of High Water Mark Sign ProjectSign Project

High water mark (HWM) signs High water mark (HWM) signs recommended by USGS/NWS recommended by USGS/NWS Workgroup, 1997Workgroup, 1997

NWS’s Southeast River Forecast NWS’s Southeast River Forecast Center began pilot project in 2006Center began pilot project in 2006

First signs installed in Rome, GA First signs installed in Rome, GA (March 2007), Franklin, VA and (March 2007), Franklin, VA and Tarboro, NC (May 2007)Tarboro, NC (May 2007)

ExampleExample

Wadley, ALWadley, AL

High Water Mark Sign High Water Mark Sign PlacementPlacement

Local Weather Forecast Office Local Weather Forecast Office consults with local emergency consults with local emergency management officials to determine management officials to determine interest.interest.

Emergency management officials Emergency management officials coordinate with city/county/state coordinate with city/county/state government on sign placement. government on sign placement.

Installation easiest on government Installation easiest on government property.property.

High Water Mark Sign High Water Mark Sign InstallationInstallation

High water mark may be surveyed in High water mark may be surveyed in from river gauge by USGS and NWS from river gauge by USGS and NWS personnel.personnel.

High water mark may be based on local High water mark may be based on local history if height is well-established.history if height is well-established.

Signs are generally installed on Signs are generally installed on buildings for maximum impact.buildings for maximum impact.

Signs may also be installed on posts in Signs may also be installed on posts in well-traveled public areas.well-traveled public areas.

Completed Installations Completed Installations MS: Jackson MS: Jackson AL: WadleyAL: Wadley GA: RomeGA: Rome SC: ConwaySC: Conway NC: Snow Hill, NC: Snow Hill,

Pollocksville, Pollocksville, Tarboro, Tarboro, Belhaven, Belhaven, Greenville, Greenville, KinstonKinston

VA: FranklinVA: Franklin

Planned Installations - 2009 and Planned Installations - 2009 and 20102010

20092009 Jefferson, TXJefferson, TX

Big Cypress BayouBig Cypress Bayou Victoria, TXVictoria, TX

Guadalupe RiverGuadalupe River Orange, TX (??)Orange, TX (??)

Sabine RiverSabine River

20102010 Shreveport, LAShreveport, LA

Red RiverRed River Monroe, LAMonroe, LA

Ouachita RiverOuachita River

Signs can Reference:Signs can Reference:Inland Flooding from Tropical Inland Flooding from Tropical

SystemsSystems

Kinston, NCKinston, NC

Signs can Reference:Signs can Reference:Riverine Flooding Riverine Flooding

Wadley, ALWadley, AL

Location of HWM Line FlexibleLocation of HWM Line Flexible

Greenville, NCGreenville, NC

High Water Mark Sign High Water Mark Sign Unveiling CeremoniesUnveiling Ceremonies

High Water Mark Sign High Water Mark Sign ProjectProject

For more information about For more information about obtaining a high water mark sign for obtaining a high water mark sign for your community, please contact your your community, please contact your local National Weather Service local National Weather Service Forecast Office.Forecast Office.

Questions??Questions??

Southern Region HSBSouthern Region HSB◦ Ben Weiger (Project Lead)Ben Weiger (Project Lead)

Ben.Weiger@noaa.gov (817) 978-1100 x118(817) 978-1100 x118

◦ Tracy HowiesonTracy Howieson Tracy.Howieson@noaa.gov (817) 978-1100 x 120(817) 978-1100 x 120

TADD ToolboxTADD Toolbox◦ http://tadd.weather.gov/http://tadd.weather.gov/

Project Contacts/WebsiteProject Contacts/Website