LOCAL WARNING FLASH FLOOD PROGRAMS

Local Warning Flash Flood Programs (LWFFP's) are fairly common within Gentral Region, yet very few LWFFP's are classified as complete. The best procedure for initiating a community warning plan is bo allow the nearest National Weather Service (NWS) field office (i.e., Weather Service Forecast Office (WSPO), Weather Service Office (WSO)) to be the IWFFP coordinator. One problem with this concept is that, in general, communities don't completely understand the importance of establishing and implementing an LWFFP. When the WSFO and/or WSO take an extremely active part in community affairs (such as at Rochester, Minnesota), it may not be necessary to have a complete LWFFP (although it is recommended) . Furthermore, using the Rochester WSO as a case in point, multi-LWFFP's operated from a central point seem to provide adequate community flash flood warning capabilities. Unfortunately, in many communities adequate warning response plans do not exist. For a community to provide themselves with a completed operational response plan, it is necessary that they implement the requirements listed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (National Weather Service, 1985). 1988 Local Warning Flash Flood Programs (LWFFP's) Memorandum of Understanding NWS (National Weather Service) NWC (National Water Center) Library Public Domain 1931