|
Harris County Flood Warning System Tool Help
Map Controls The Flood Warning System uses Bing’s base map and map controls. The controls are found in the upper right portion of the map window below the Flood Control District logo.
· To view different areas of the map, hold the left mouse button and drag the map up, down, right or left. ·
Select ·
Select ·
Select
Map Overlay Click the down arrow to change the map overlay.
· Road (default): The map displays as a standard road map. · Aerial: The map displays the satellite view. Moving the “Labels” slider to the right and left turns the road labels on and off. The “Labels” are only available when the Aerial map is selected. · Bird’s Eye: The map display provides a better angled view at 50’ and 100’ zoom levels. Aerial must be selected before the Bird’s Eye view can be displayed. Map View Options Select any or all of the following by clicking the check box next to the label:
· Rainfall (default): This legend item displays labels showing rainfall totals in inches for the last 24 hours for a gage station site at its location on the map. Mouse over a Rainfall Totals label to see the stream elevation sensor number and location in a text window. Click “More Information” in the text window to see additional rainfall and stream level data for that gage station site. Rainfall for each gage displays the last 24 hours of rainfall data. · Channel Status: This legend item provides a visual indication of the status at each gage station. The status changes based on water levels at the gage station.
Rainfall Data Information Bar The Rainfall Data Information Bar displays the selected time-frame for Rainfall Data. This is done by changing the timeframe located in the left-hand column of the tool under “Rainfall Data”.
Rainfall Data Select the “Current” or “Historical” tabs to view the rainfall totals for the specified time period. On the “Current” tab, use the dropdown to select a timeframe and then click “Refresh Data.” On the “Historical” tab, select the number of days to count back along with the date and time from which to count back. Click “Show Historical” to refresh the map and update the data being displayed. Gage Selections Under Gage Selections, you can choose to see gages supported and maintained by a particular agency or a specific gage by location from dropdown lists. The map will zoom and pan to display the selected agency gage(s) or gage location. When you select an agency from the “Gages by Agency” dropdown list, the options available in the “Gage by Location” dropdown list will refresh to include only gage station sites for that particular agency. Click “Reset to Agency View” to clear a “Gage by Location” selection and return the map to the “Gages by Agency” view previously selected.
Address Search To view the gage station site that is closest to your home, business or other location, enter a street address and zip code in the address search field and click the “Find” button. The map will zoom to that address and display a pin. Move your cursor over the pin to view a text window displaying the address you entered. You can use the Pan Tool or your cursor to move the map to find the gage station site closest to the address. Click “Clear Search” to clear the pin.
Agency View Click “Agency View” to open a new window showing a print view of all of the gage station sites for the selected agency. The new window is formatted for printing and will print as shown. Click the “Print” button in the new window to print.
More Information/Gage Station Site Information Page A new window providing more detailed information about a specific gage station site will open when you click “More Information” from a Rainfall Totals label. By default, the Gage Station Site Information page will display stream elevation, rainfall data and related graphs for the gage station site selected. You can change rainfall data criteria or select a different gage using the dropdown lists at the top of the page. You can export data from the Gage Station Site Information page by clicking the “Export to Excel” button.
Inundation Map The current inundation map feature is a mapping tool that provides current channel inundation based on information collected by gage stations strategically placed throughout Harris County bayous and their tributaries. This information is used by the Flood Control District and by Harris County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to inform the public of estimated inundation impacts across the County. It is not intended as a notification system for the issuing of flood watches, warnings, or evacuations. Instead, the estimated inundation data is provided to help you and emergency management officials make critical decisions that may ultimately reduce the risk of property damage, injuries and loss of life. The Flood Control District urges you and your family to use this information and take the appropriate precautions during times of heavy rain and flooding. You are encouraged to monitor inundation levels near your homes, places of work and areas along your daily commutes.
This tool generates a map of flood inundation along our bayous and creeks where we have water level gages. The tool runs continuously to provide live inundation mapping during a flood, though the results may be as much as 15 minutes behind real time due to the time required to generate the mapping from the gage data and will only show a new map if the gage data changes .50 of a foot. The inundation mapping will be shown to a zoom level of 500 feet and above. The map depicts current flood extent plus a 6 inch buffer, and does not include water depth. Inundation mapping has also been produced for a number of recent historical events. Limitations: This tool does not show all flooding which may occur. This map will not depict flooding from: · Channels and tributaries without gages. · Ponding o The process, occurring during or after intense rainfall, when water gathers in low lying areas. Frequently referring to water standing in the streets when the capacity of the storm sewer is exceeded. · Sheet flow o (Overland Flow Flooding) - Flooding that occurs when intense local rainfall flows overland to reach a channel. Frequently, this conditions exists when runoff exceeds storm sewer or roadside ditch capacity, and the water can "pond" in the streets deep enough to flood residences that are not even near a creek of bayou. The water will seek a path to the channel by flowing overland (Sheet Flow). When residences and other structures are in that path, flooding occurs. Because the estimated inundation mapping is based on
gage data, if gages become damaged in the field during a flood, the estimated
inundation mapping will be based on less information and this may affect the
accuracy of the estimate in the vicinity of the damaged gage. Harris
County does not assume liability for the misuse or misinterpretation of any
data included within this map. Use of these materials constitutes
acceptance of this disclaimer of liability.
The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) provides information via this website as a public service. While HCFCD makes every effort to ensure information is up-to-date, accurate and complete, HCFCD makes no representations, guarantees, or warranties as to the availability, accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability of the information provided via this website. HCFCD specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages that may result from providing the website or the information it contains. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this site is hereby expressly disclaimed.
|
to zoom in on the map.
to zoom out on the map. 
to zoom to the current location on
the map. 
