FLASH FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM REFRENCE GUIDE

This guide was prepared as a collaborative effort between the COMET® Program of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), and staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a U.S. Contribution to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Voluntary Cooperation Program (VCP). Principal authors were Christopher D. Hill (COMET) and Firoz Verjee (NOAA), with significant input from Curt Barrett (NOAA-retired). This guide is intended to help national hydro-meteorological services in developing a concept of opera­tions for a flash flood early warning system. It includes chapters on Flash Flood Science, Flash Flood Forecasting Methods, Monitoring Networks, Technology Infrastructure, Warning Dissemination and Notification, and Community-based Disaster Management, and several examples of Flash Flood Early Warning Systems. This Guide will encourage and assist countries and communities to develop early warn­ing systems needed to save lives and protect property from the sudden threat of flash floods.