Presentation Outline. Wimberley Witnessing the Flood. Wimberley & Home Memorial Weekend Flood. Observations/Comments

Transcription

1 Wimberley Witnessing the Flood Date: September 4, 2015 Presented by: John A. Espinoza, PE, CFM;MS Engineering Cindy Engelhardt, PE, CFM; lff Associates Mike Moya, PE, CFM; lff Associates Presentation Outline Wimberley & Home Memorial Weekend Flood Before the flood During the flood After the flood Observations/Comments 1

2 Wimberley Central Texas ys County Population 2,582? Permanent Semi-permanent Tourist Blanco River Spring fed Flood Stage 13 feet Previous record flood 5/28/ feet Home 239 Blanco Drive No Land line phone Cable TV Internet access Private park across the street Blanco River Flow 15 cfs Depth 1 to 2 feet deep Rock bottom Clear water Outside 100 year floodplain 2

3 Before the Flood Rain in Texas - drought ending? Ground saturated Predicting heavy rains Subdivision picnic scheduled for Sunday, May 24 - cancelled Many flood alerts Day of the Flood Saturday Mowed the lawn Started to rain during the afternoon Monitored USGS Gage at RR cfs Received various alerts on cell phone Night of the Flood Noah The BLUR starting around 10:30 pm Getting ready for bed and doorbell Cars moving Lost electricity Limited cell phone coverage Sounds from the river Waves Left Wimberley around 12:30 am Returned the next morning 3

4 Alerts Alerts / warnings throughout the day into the evening 8:23 pm Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life. 11:24 pm - the Weather Service upgraded the warning to the highest level of flood alert, known as a "flood emergency," for the Blanco River Basin and its tributaries, including Wimberley. "NUMEROUS HOMES HAVE BEEN FLOODED WITH HIGH WATER RESCUES ONGOING," the warning said. "BLANCO RIVER AT WIMBERLEY HAS RISEN TWELVE FEET IN THIRTY MINUTES AND AN ADDITIONAL RISE OF AT LEAST SIX FEET IS EXPECTED IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE- THREATENING SITUATION." 4

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6 Prior to the Blanco River Study Update 2005: FEMA Effective Maps 1990 s Corps Model Regression Equation Flows 6

7 Blanco River Major Historical Events Prior to the Blanco River Study Update Current Effective FEMA The Blanco River Study Update Study Partners Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority US Army Corps of Engineers Texas Water Development Board Local Partners 7

8 The Blanco River Study Update Phase 1 (Main Rivers) 460 river miles including the Guadalupe, Blanco, and San Marcos Rivers 6,000 square mile basin Elevation range 0-1,500 7 Counties in the GBRA service area (Victoria, De Witt, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Caldwell, Comal, & ys) Tributaries in the Cities of Luling and Woodcreek The Blanco River Study Update Phase 1 (Main Rivers) Coordination with Project Stakeholders Basin-wide Terrain Collection of Field Surveys Collection of Historical Data Hydrologic Analysis USACE gage frequency analysis Hydraulic Analysis Assessment of Potential Flood Damages Analysis of Potential Flood Reduction Alternatives After the Blanco River 2015 Flood FEMA Advisory Current Effective FEMA 8

9 Prior to the Blanco River 2015 Flood After the Blanco River 2015 Flood After the Blanco River 2015 Flood 9

10 After the Blanco River 2015 Flood FEMA Advisory Base Flood Elevations ABFE Maps ABFE Profiles Depth Grids Areas of Expanded Risk After the flood What do you do first? From FloodSmart Check for damage Remove wet items Plan before you repair File your flood claim Debris Removal Coordinated Debris Types Brush Building materials Household hazard waste (paints, etc.) FEMA Private Property Removal Program Application 10

11 Health Tetanus shots Mental Health Deaths Damages If your home was flooded If your home was not flooded Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) R Volunteers Local Church Businesses Many National Red Cross AmeriCorps Team Rubicon Volunteer Resource Center (VRC) R Donations Businesses Money Clothes Cleaning supplies Tools Water and ice Food and meals R 11

12 Flood Insurance and Loans Register for FEMA Assistance For those with flood insurance Contact insurance agent Preparing a detailed damage estimate Supporting documents Private firms Adjustors For those without flood insurance Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Trees Many trees Which will survive? Remove or Not Remove Contractors Cleanup Volunteers Private 911 Restoration Roto-Rooter Re-build City Contractor Certification 12

13 Source of Information Media Coverage Websites Facebook s Meetings Highwater Marks Many points Damage Assessments Permits Building Permits (waived fee) Floodplain Development Drones 13

14 Homes 70 homes destroyed 250 to 300 homes damaged Other Flooded Vehicles Property Values Portable Toilets Scams Pets What are the Neighbors Saying I bought my home by the river knowing that this could happen. Even though I have flood insurance, very difficult to receive money. Those without flood insurance may be receiving special rates from some contractors. 14

15 Observations What is the best way to notify people? Volunteers, why so many? How accurate are our models? When did authorities show up? Would a check list helped? Where is the next Wimberley? Meanwhile 15

16 John A. Espinoza, PE, CFM Phone: (210) Cindy Engelhardt, PE, CFM Phone: (512) Mike Moya, PE, CFM Phone: (512)