Improving public response to hurricane flooding

Hurricane Irene, a category 1 hurricane, struck south Florida in October 1999, and produced an areal average rainfall of 10 to 15 inches in the metropolitan areas of southeast Florida. The subsequent flooding led to the deaths of eight people and caused nearly $600 million in losses. Despite accurate predictions of the amount, location and timing of the rainfall, and its flooding, criticism was levied on local officials and the NWS about a perceived lack of warning.

A strategy to improve response by local official and the public to future tropical cyclone rainfall flooding events in south Florida is presented. The strategy is based on conveying information from 100 years of tropical cyclone rainfall/flooding records in south Florida which allows for discrimination of events based on rainfall amount, antecedent conditions and drainage efficiency.