Flash Flood Potential Tool

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The Flash Flood Potential (FFP) tool was created by the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (FCD) to convey the threat of flash flooding before, during, and after a heavy rain event. The tool analyzes soil moisture and forecast rainfall in each of the FCD’s weather forecast zones. It then assigns FFP with intuitive threat levels based on categorized rainfall thresholds. The output is displayed as an easy to understand map layer viewable on the FCD’s interactive weather map or other software such as Google Earth®. Information from this tool is used for flood forecasting/warning services and as a visual aid by the local warning and response communities.