HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 136 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 22-136
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 20, 2022
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SUBJECT: FLOODING NOTIFICATION
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This report provides background on (i) the City of Fort Worth's (City's) real-time High-Water Warning
System (HWWS); (ii) how the City currently communicates flood warning information; (iii) how residents
can sign up to receive real-time flood warning notifications; and (iv) discusses plans for future
improvements to flood warning notifications.
Each year, more deaths in the U.S. occur due to flooding than any other thunderstorm-related hazard
because people underestimate the force and power of water. Specifically, 21 fatalities associated with
flooding have been reported in Fort Worth since 1986. Since the City began tracking high water incidents
electronically in 2009, 231 high water rescues have been documented. Effective real-time flood warning
communications to residents are critical to reducing the risk of flooding-related roadway incidents.
City's High Water Warning System (HWWS)
The Stormwater Management Division (SWM) of the Transportation and Public Works (TPW) Department
operates a network of 21 dedicated weather stations and 51 water level sensors in some of the most
flood-prone areas to monitor rainfall and water levels across the City. When sensors at hazardous
locations determine roadways are close to overtopping, flashers are triggered, warning drivers to turn
around and avoid the crossing. Real-time alarms via text and emails are sent to first responders such as
Stormwater Field Operations, Fire, Police, and County personnel. Roads that are observed to be
overtopped are barricaded. The SWM HWWS webpage https://cs-029.onerain.com/ is updated in real-time
identifying road locations that are overtopping and should be avoided, locations where water is rising, and
caution should be exercised, and locations that are currently not flooded.
Current Flood Warning Notifications to the Public
In advance of rain events, the City notifies residents of potential flooding and "Turn Around Don't Drown"
messaging via social media such as Facebook, Next Door, and Twitter. Information about flood risk is also
mailed out annually in water bills.
Residents can sign up for the City of Fort Worth notification system called Fort Worth Texas Alerts
(registration is also available through the CodeRed Mobile Alert app) to receive timely severe weather
warnings directly from the National Weather Service via text, email, and/or voice messaging. See attached
information about how to sign up. Residents can also download Fort Worth Texas Alerts for a visual map
of active alerts and to receive specific severe weather warnings based on their phone location. Sign-up
information is available at FortWorthTexasAlerts.gov.
In addition to Fort Worth Texas Alerts, residents can sign up for the CASA Alerts app, which pushes storm
notifications using radar estimates across the DFW area based on cell phone location. The City
participates in CASA (Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere) through regional collaboration
with the North Central Texas Council of Government (NCTCOG).
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 22-136
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 20, 2022
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SUBJECT: FLOODING NOTIFICATION
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The MyFW app cannot push real-time notifications to residents, only to take in information. Residents can
report flooding and drainage issues using the MyFW app.
Future Improvements to Flood Warning Notifications
SWM, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and the Communications Department collaborate on
improving flood warning notifications. This includes:
• Testing of notifications from Fort Worth Texas Alerts when the user's cell phone is within proximity
of a HWWS location during flooding events.
• Updates to the MyFW App to make reporting flooding easier during rain events by adding an alert
to the main screen to report flooding that will go live during significant rain events instead of users
having to scroll through the menu to look for the appropriate reporting section.
• Annual electronic notification to specific Neighborhood Associations, Alliances, and Homeowners
associations within proximity to HWWS flashers with location-specific information about the flashers
in their area, Turn Around Don't Drown messaging, and information about how to sign up for flood
warning notifications with Fort Worth Texas Alerts.
• Strategic evaluation of the roadside flashers associated with the HWWS locations to determine if
they can be used to warn drivers of flooding more effectively.
• Evaluation of adding new/additional HWWS flashers based on flood risk as a part of the
Stormwater Program's Hazardous Road Overtopping Mitigation effort.
Questions about this Informal Report can be directed to Ranjan Muttiah, HWWS Manager, at 817-392-
7919 or Robert Medford, OEM Emergency Management Coordinator, at 817-392-6173.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 22-136
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 20, 2022
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SUBJECT: FLOODING NOTIFICATION
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To sign up to receive emergency notifications issued by the Fort Worth Office of Emergency Management
and weather warnings issued by the National Weather Service, go to FortWorthTexasAlerts.gov.
Fort Worth Texas Alerts
Hay tres formas de recibir una alerta de la Oficina de manejo de
emergencias del Departamento de Bomberos de Fort Worth.Puede
elegir todas[as opciones o la que mas le convenga.
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MENSAJE DE LLAMADA CORREO
TEXTO TELEFbNICA ELECTRbNICO
Cuando as envia una Puede optar For recibir Tambidn puede recloir un
alerta de"Fort Worth tambien una Ramada correo electr6nico con
Texas Alerts',puede telefbnica,pero esto detatles sobre la alerta.Su
recibir solo un mensaje de no as un requisito. informaci6n no se
tax to en su telefono par. Cuando se registre o compartir6 fuera de"Fort
avisarle de to notification. actualice su registro Worth Texas Mans".
agregue o elimine sate
opci6n.
"Cuando se registre para recibir alertas, asegdrese de registrarse
complet amen
to y no registrarse como"invitado". Esto le permite editar
su cuenta segdn sea necesario.
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS