Using Multi-Objective Management to Reduce Flood Losses in Your

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
Most flood warning
programs have two levels of
notification:
Flood watch−Conditions are
right for flooding.
Flood warning−A flood has
started or is expected to
occur.
The National Weather
Service may issue a “flash
flood watch” for urban
areas. This means the
amount of rain expected will
cause ponding and other
flooding on small streams in
urbanized watersheds.
that a flood is imminent. The earlier and the more
accurate the warning, the greater the number of people
who can take protective action.
A flood warning may be disseminated via
sirens, radio, television, cable television, mobile public
address systems, telephone trees, and even door-todoor
contact. Multiple or redundant systems are most
effective: if people do not hear one warning, they may
still get the message from another part of the system.
To Find Out More > > Obtain information
about warnings from the local, county, and state
emergency management offices and the National
Weather Service.
Flood response
After people are notified of a flood threat, the next step
is to respond with actions to prevent or reduce damage
or injury. Such actions (and the responsible parties)
could be:
Activating the emergency operations center
(emergency manager)
Sandbagging certain areas (public works or road department)
Closing streets or bridges (police or sheriff’s department)
Shutting off power to threatened areas (utility company)
Releasing children from school (school district)
Ordering an evacuation (mayor)
Opening evacuation shelters (churches, schools, or the Red Cross)
Monitoring water levels (engineer)
Guarding sandbag walls and other protection measures (police).
A flood response or emergency action plan is the best way to ensure that all bases
are covered and that the response activities are appropriate for the flood expected.
The plan is developed in coordination with the agencies or offices that will be
responsible for carrying it out.
Most critical facilities should have their own emergency response plans.
Critical facilities fall into two categories: (1) buildings or sites vital to the flood
response effort, such as emergency operations centers and police and fire stations,
and (2) buildings or sites that, if flooded, would create secondary disasters, such
as hazardous materials facilities and nursing homes.
To Find Out More > > Assistance on flood response is available from the
local, county, and state emergency management or civil defense offices and the
local chapter of the American Red Cross.
Post-flood activities
The flood response plan should identify appropriate measures to take after the
flood. They would include such measures as:
Patrolling evacuated areas to prevent looting
Providing safe drinking water
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