Who uses FLOOD STAGE FORECAST MAPS?
Emergency personnel; to identify areas that will be inundated first; municipal officials to develop flood evacuation plans; and individuals to easily determine how the forecasted flood will affect them. What are the benefits of FLOOD STAGE FORECAST MAPS? The proper use of a flood stage forecast map can help: • Save Lives • Reduce Property Damage • Facilitate in Developing Evacuation Plans • Provide Local Interpretation of National Weather Service Flood Warnings How are FLOOD STAGE FORECAST MAPS used? Flood stage delineations are placed usually at 5-foot intervals, indicated by contour lines on the map. The intervals are determined based on the topography of the flood plain. When a reliable source, such as the National Weather Service, predicts the expected flood stage for a specific event, the map can be used to determine what areas will be affected. The maps depict the streets in the flood plain for easy interpretation when determining evacuation plans. The intervals on the map are ge