Examples of Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) Related Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS), Collaboration, and Training Initiatives

As part of the original 10% rollout area across the CONUS (FIM10), the NWS Forecast Office in State College, PA (CTP) remained active throughout 2024 in training exercises, partner collaboration, and the incorporation of FIM in high-leverage IDSS. Examples of these focus areas will be highlighted below.

From April 2-4, 2024, several rounds of heavy rainfall impacted portions of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic region, including Central Pennsylvania. As a result, flooding (some reaching moderate to major levels at official forecast points/gauges) occurred on several main stem rivers and smaller tributaries in Central Pennsylvania. On the afternoon of April 3, the Deputy Director of Emergency Services from Centre County, PA, contacted CTP requesting guidance on potential inundation near a nursing home in the town of Milesburg, along Bald Eagle Creek. Based on an evaluation of analysis and maximum inundation extent FIM datasets, as well as expected near-future rainfall, CTP advised that an evacuation of the nursing home facility would very likely not be necessary. This proved to be the correct decision, saving Centre County officials, as well as nursing home staff and residents, from a difficult and unnecessary evacuation.

On August 15, 2024, CTP, the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (RHA), and the Office of Water Prediction (OWP) combined to give a Satellite Book Club (SBC) presentation. SBC webinars are typically conducted weekly and inform NWS personnel of emerging satellite-based capabilities and best practice examples. The August 15 collaborative presentation by CTP, RHA, and OWP outlined current FIM review, verification, and usage examples at the NWS field office level. This was followed by a summary of efforts to expand FIM verification capabilities in the future through the utilization of satellite data comparisons to help delineate dry vs. inundated areas.

On August 29, 2024, CTP conducted a small group FIM training exercise. FIM subject matter experts from CTP and RHA facilitated the exercise, which was based on Hurricane Ida’s impacts on the Mid-Atlantic region in 2021. The purpose of this exercise was to re-familiarize staff with basic FIM functionalities and software platforms, share recent enhancements, and train operational staff to utilize FIM datasets for providing and optimizing core partner IDSS.