High Water Mark Sign Project
The SERFC is partnering with several Eastern and Southern
Region WFOs to place high water mark signs in their areas. The signs will
be installed in well-trafficked areas that were affected by the flood of
record. Often, the signs will be located quite a distance from the river,
in order to better demonstrate the severity of the flood. The signs clearly
identify the SERFC, appropriate WFO, and the USGS, promoting heightened visibility
of the partnership involved in hydrologic predictions at the river site.
Eric Frantz, USGS student employee, and his father
Kent Frantz, Senior Service Hydrologist for WFO Atlanta, installed the
Rome, GA sign as a team.
The first sign was unveiled in Rome, Georgia, on March 21,
2007, during Flood Safety Awareness Week. Rome's record flood occurred on
April 1, 1886, when the Oostanaula River rose to a stage of 40.3 feet, inundating
some parts of downtown Rome with more than 20 feet of water. Next will be
three East Coast sites that suffered severe flooding in the wake of 1999's
Hurricane Floyd. Franklin, Virginia is slated to receive a sign in April
2007, and Tarboro, North Carolina, and Conway, South Carolina's signs will
debut in early summer.
Picture
Web Site of Rome, GA Sign Ceremony
Slide
Show - 22 MB
 Service Hydrologists Kent Frantz (FFC), Keith Lynch (AKQ),
Mike Moneypenny (RAH) and Rick Neuherz (ILM) are coordinating with emergency
management and other local officials to select the best locations for the
signs. The USGS is involved as well, providing historical data and aiding
with the surveying of high water marks in their districts.
After this 2007 pilot project, SERFC hopes to partner with
more WFOs to install additional high water mark signs. Local residents who
lived through a severe flood will not soon forget its effects, but the signs
will raise awareness of the dangers of flooding for new residents and future
generations.
Would your community like a sign?
If you're in the NWS or emergency management community,
and you'd like to request a sign for your area, please provide the following
information: community affected, river name, and the date and crest height
MSL of the record flood. The SERFC is planning to purchase one sign for each
WFO in their service area; WFOs that desire more signs will need to purchase
the additional units themselves. The cost is similar to that of a StormReady
sign, so they are quite affordable. If the record flood was caused by a landfalling
tropical system, the sign will also contain the name of the storm.
Things to consider
The first step is to coordinate with local officials about
the sign project. If they agree in principle, decide with them the best location
for the sign. The purpose of the project is to raise awareness of how bad
flooding can be; a high water mark sign on the wall of a building on Main
St. will be more impressive than a signpost near the riverbank. Think "wow
factor". You'll also need to obtain permission from the facility's owner;
for this reason, it's often easier if the building is city property.
Consult with the appropriate USGS office about official
high water levels. Surveying may be needed for correct placement of the sign.
You'll want to have the sign installed well before the day
of the unveiling, in case of unforeseen issues that might arise. After the
pre-installation, remove the sign itself until the day of the ceremony. Early
that day, replace the sign and cover it with something that can be removed
at the proper moment.
Invite the media, elected officials and others from various
levels of government; don't forget the USGS and other water-related entities
in the area. If the flood was recent enough, consider inviting a survivor
or two to tell their stories -- especially if they involve the building or
immediate area where the sign is being placed. |