Partnerships for Real-Time Flood Inundation Mapping Capabilities across the Federal Enterprise

Users of current flood mapping products note that they are confused by multiple sources of information, unsure of how the characteristics of various products differ, and unsure about which products are best suited to particular uses and decisions during response activities. To address this, the interagency Science on Disaster Reduction organization has sponsored a working group dedicated to coordinating real-time flood inundation mapping across Federal agencies in response to challenges documented during the record inland flooding events in 2017 and 2018. The working group identified opportunities to harmonize products, make them more interoperable, and to better communicate about intended uses. As the primary providers and users of flood and inundation maps, NOAA, USACE, USGS, and FEMA serve as the leadership group shaping these efforts. This presentation will discuss the outcomes of this effort and plans to implement coordinated real-time flood inundation mapping services.