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Flood warnings can save lives. Don’t be caught unaware.

Flood Warnings & Safety

Flood Warnings & Safety

You Are Responsible for Your Own Safety!

When a flood threatens, remember...

  • Moving water is a powerful force of nature.
  • Waters rise rapidly during flash floods. You may have only seconds to save yourself.
  • Flooded creeks and streams are unpredictable. Even though the surface may be smooth, the water may be moving very fast.
  • Eighty percent of flood deaths occur when people drive into water or simply walk into moving water. TURN AROUND. DON’T DROWN.

Flood dangers do not end when the water recedes

  • Flooded buildings may have hidden damage that makes them unsafe.
  • Fire is the most frequent hazard following floods.
  • Food contaminated by floodwaters can cause severe infections.

Flood Safety Information Sheets

When Flooding Is Forecast, During a Flood, Flooded Roads, and After a Flood
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Severe Weather Awareness - Flood Safety

National Weather Service
Go to Website

Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance

Environmental Protection Agency
Go to Website

Guidelines for Post-flood Stream Construction

What to do and not do after a major storm
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
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Don't Be Caught Unaware

Get notified about flood emergencies.

NY-ALERT

Sign up to receive emergency alerts. The user can choose areas of interest, types of notifications, and ways to get notified.
Go to Website

National Weather Service, Binghamton Weather Forecast Office

Website provides current flood warnings and severe weather information for the STC region (in addition to weather forecasts).
Go to Website

Emergency Alert System

Local radio and television stations that disseminate flood warnings through the national Emergency Alert System are: WENY-FM, WKPQ-FM, WNKI-FM, WFLR-AM/FM, WENY-TV, and WETM-TV.

Flood Watches and Warnings

What does the National Weather Service terminology mean?
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Current River Observations and Forecasts

Current river observations and forecasts from federal agencies provide local site-specific information at gauge locations. Data from these gauges are essential for developing reliable flood warnings and many other purposes.

National Water Prediction Service

The National Weather Service presents real-time River Observations at gauge sites and River Forecasts for some gauges. Select a site on the map for a plot of observed and forecast river levels, flood impacts at different water levels, and additional gauge information.
Go to Website

USGS Current Water Data for New York

The US Geological Survey provides real-time water data, statistics, and other information for gauges in their system.
Go to Website

Who Uses Stream Gauge Data?

Presentation for a Congressional Briefing that stressed the importance of long-term stream gauge data and provided examples of how streamflow information is used in the STC region.
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Local Gauge Network

A local gauge network, operated by the non-profit Environmental Emergency Services (EES), supplements the information from federal agencies with real-time information about stream, river, and lake levels; precipitation; and other weather conditions. During flood events, conditions are monitored by volunteers to support emergency operations in Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler Counties.

EES Gauge Data

Access data from locally operated water level gauges, precipitation gauges, and climate stations (operated by Environmental Emergency Services). Mobile web viewer (DW Mobile) enables a user to view current and recent data on a mobile device or computer.
Go to Website

Accessing EES Gauge Data from a Mobile Device

Handout provides guidance for using the DW Mobile viewer to retrieve current and recent data from EES gauges.
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Environmental Emergency Services

Environmental Emergency Services serving Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben Counties
Go to Website

Flood Inundation Maps

Flood inundation maps show the areas that are expected to be inundated when the river reaches various levels. This provides a graphical extension of river forecasts by showing where flooding is likely to occur and how deep the water may be. This tool can be used to plan for flood emergencies, as well as for emergency response.

NWS AHPS Inundation Mapping 2.0

9 minute video
Watch Video

Flood Inundation Maps for Chemung, Tioga, and Canisteo Rivers

The National Weather Service maintains online flood inundation maps for the Chemung River and the downstream reach of the Tioga River. This mapping is tied to river levels at four gauges in the STC region. To access this information, go to the river gauge data page (links below), check “Activate FIM Gauge” below the map, and then point to the Stage (gauge height) on the left to see the area expected to be inundated at that water level.

Less detailed inundation mapping is available for the following gauges showing the areas inundated at each flood category (Action Stage, Minor Flooding, Moderate Flooding, and Major Flooding). To view this information, go to the river gauge data page (links below) and check “Activate CATFIM” below the map.

Additional Resources

Chemung County: Fire and Emergency Management

Schuyler County: Emergency Services

Steuben County: Office of Emergency Services

Susquehanna Flood Forecast and Warning System

This system is a network of stream and rain gauges that generate the data used to issue advanced flood warnings. Website includes links to current conditions, warnings, forecasts, flood safety information, maps, and other resources.
Go to Website

NAI How-to Guide for Emergency Services

Association of State Floodplain Managers No-Adverse Impact document presents guidance and tools for improving the effectiveness of local emergency services during floods.
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Emergency Planning Guide for Community Officials

NYS Emergency Management Office and NYS Emergency Management Association (2008)
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