FLOODING FROM CENTRAL TEXAS STORM SYSTEM

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FLOODING FROM CENTRAL TEXAS STORM SYSTEM

• JUNE 12-28 ? 2007
• 11 dead
• Extensive Societal Disruption

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LOCATION OF TEXAS - OKLAHOMA STORM SYSTEM
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FLOODING IN CENTRAL TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA

• Thursday, June 28th was the 16th consecutive day
  that rain fell across parts of Central Texas and
  the 15th day in parts of Oklahoma.
• More than 1/3 meter (1 1/2 ft) fell in some
  locations, causing creeks and rivers to overflow,
  producing flood conditions.
• The longer-than-normal duration of the
  precipitation and thunderstorms was related to a
  tropical air mass that was temporarily frozen in
  its position over south central Texas.

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FLOODING IN PARTS OF CENTRAL TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA
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ANNUAL RAINFALL IN CENTRAL TEXAS-OKLAHOMA

• Some locations in central Texas have now recorded
  more rainfall in the month of June than in all of
  2006.

• Normal annual rainfall in Dallas and Oklahoma
  City is 83 cm/yr (33 in/yr).
• Both locations have now recorded close to that
  level.

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FLOODING STRANDED PEOPLE

• Some locations were under 2 m (6 ft) or more of
  water.
• People were stranded on rooftops, in trees, and
  on the top of cars.
• The downpour and winds were so unpredictable at
  times that helicopters were forced to halt their
  risky, high-water rescue operations to remove
  people from rooftops.
• Residents living near dams were relocated.

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FORECASTS

• Meteorologists forecast that the tropical air
  mass would remain in place for several more days.
• This meant that thunderstorms and additional rain
  are expected to occur daily through most of the
  next week.
• Flood warnings extended from the Gulf of Mexico
  northward through most of Texas and Oklahoma and
  into Missouri.

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FLOODING CONDITIONS

• The creeks, the rivers, and the lakes were all
  full, so any additional rain exacerbated
  flooding conditions.

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SOCIETAL IMPACTS OF THE FLOODING

• Flooding inundated houses, disrupted businesses,
  knocked out bridges, and transportation systems,
  created huge quantities of debris, and posed
  potential healthcare problems.

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DEBRIS FROM FLOODING
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SCOURING AND DISCHARGE KNOCKS OUT BRIDGES
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FLOODING AFFECTS TRANSPORTATION
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FISHING FROM ROADBED OF HIGHWAY 56, VALLEY MILLS,
TX
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FLOODING DAMAGES MOBILE HOME PARK
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WIND AND FLOODING DAMAGE MOBILE HOME PARK
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A SAFETY LESSON FROM FLOOD WATERS

• The flooding situations reinforced an important
  safety lesson
• Depending on their weight, trucks and cars will
  float downstream when the water depth reaches
  1/3 m (1 ft).

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HIGH-WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS

• Risky, high-water, search and rescue operations
  were needed in some flooded locations when cars
  and pickup trucks floated downstream.
• Helicopters were needed to remove people stranded
  on rooftops and in trees.