For Immediate Release
March 29, 2001
(WEST TRENTON, N.J.) - The flood warning system for the Delaware River and some of its feeder streams is being upgraded, a move aimed at reducing flood losses in future years.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Weather Service (NWS) will be adding the much needed monitoring and communications equipment to the Delaware River Basin's flood alert system during the next few months. The move comes less than two years after the remnants of a nasty hurricane named Floyd caused serious flooding in the basin.
Additions and upgrades to the warning system include:
A new stream gauge for the Schuylkill River at Norristown, Pa.
Re-installation and modernization of a stream gauge at Tocks Island, N.J., in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Improved hydrologic data for stream gauges at four locations, including the Lehigh River at Lehighton, Pa., the Schuylkill River at Berne, Pa., the Brodhead Creek at Minisink Hills, Pa., and the Perkiomen Creek at Graterford, Pa.
Improved monitoring at the stream gauge on the Brodhead Creek at Minisink Hills.
Modernization of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Radio system in Philadelphia to improve coverage.
Addition of two new NOAA Weather Radio transmitters in Sussex County, N.J., and in Sudlersville, Md. These combine with existing transmitters to extend weather radio coverage throughout the entire Delaware River Basin.
Many people still have vivid memories of September 16, 1999, the day Floyd brushed the New Jersey coast, unleashing up to almost a foot of rain in parts of the basin. The extensive flooding that occurred then can and will happen again. It is just a matter of when.
Despite programs to acquire flood prone property, most flood plains in the Delaware River Basin are still highly developed. Flood warning, provided by the National Weather Service through a partnership with public and private organizations, is a real, every day need.
The overall goal of flood preparedness is to reduce loss of life and property damage. There are many activities, in addition to flood warning and response programs, which support this aim: flood plain regulations, property buyouts, storm water management, flood-proofing, structural flood controls like dams and levees, and flood insurance administration. These are particularly important to prevent new flood damage in developing areas and encourage wise flood plain use.
Recently, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) formed a Flood Advisory Committee in an effort to boost public awareness of flooding potential and improve coordination among various agencies in an effort to increase much-needed funding levels.
The committee is designed to provide a forum for coordination of flood related activities and promote efficient use of technical and financial resources for the benefit of the basin community. It will forward any recommendations to the commission for submission to organizations with flood preparedness and flood loss reduction responsibilities.
Stream gauges equipped with satellite telemetry are critical to a flood warning network. There are currently 46 flood forecast points in the Delaware River Basin. The National Weather Service uses rainfall observations, stream stage data, and computer modeling to forecast flood levels at river forecast points during storm events.
NOAA Weather Radio, television and radio, and emergency communications networks are used to broadcast the flood forecasts to local emergency managers. NOAA Weather Radio receivers can be purchased at many electronics stores at a relatively low cost (usually under $50). The USGS, the NWS, and the DRBC urge anyone living along a waterway to purchase such a radio, which often is capable of automatically sounding an alarm when an emergency signal is transmitted.
The cost of these radios with their early alert systems is minuscule considering their potential to reduce economic losses due to flooding - estimated at $4.5 billion nationally and $35 million within the Delaware River Basin.
The stream gauging program in the basin is operated by the USGS. Most stream gauges are jointly funded through a cooperative program among the USGS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the basin states of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, the DRBC, as well as utilities and industries. More information on the importance of stream gauges can be found on the DRBC's website at www.drbc.net.
The National Weather Service also provides general guidance on flash flood potential and will provide technical assistance to communities interested in improving their level of flash flood preparedness. The Army Corps' Floodplain Management Services Branch provides similar services.
***
Link to DRBC Enhanced Flood Warning Page
FAQs
Record flooding on the Delaware River occurred in August 1955, in the aftermath of two separate hurricanes traversing the area within less than a week. First, Hurricane Connie produced 10 inches of rain in 48 hours, putting the Delaware and surrounding rivers at flood stage.
How many times has the Delaware River flooded? ›
Some 50 years later, a string of floods hit the region in September 2004, April 2005, and June 2006. The most recent notable flood occurred in April 2022, when heavy rain caused the river to overrun its banks.
What type of warning system do floods have? ›
There are two major types of local flood warning systems: manual and automated. Deciding which to choose depends on the characteristics of the watershed, the flood loss potential, and the warning time that will be needed for the community to take action.
What was the Delaware River flood 2006? ›
In Pike County, the Delaware River caused extensive damage to Matamoras Borough and Westfall Township. The Delaware crested in the early hours of June 29 at 32.16 feet (9.80 m) at Milford (as per NOAA hydrograph) The record level of the river at Milford is 35.5 feet (10.8 m), and flood stage is 25 feet (7.6 m).
What part of Delaware floods the most? ›
Record flooding was confined mainly to the Christina River Basin in northern New Castle County, where most gaged streams reached record levels and discharges. The Christina River Basin, the largest river basin in New Castle County, includes the drainage areas of White Clay Creek, Red Clay Creek, and Brandywine Creek.
What are the three biggest floods in history? ›
List
| Death count | Event | Year |
|---|
| 422,499–4,000,000 | 1931 China floods | 1931 |
| 400,000–893,303 | 1938 Yellow River flood | 1939 |
| 145,000 | 1935 Yangtze flood | 1935 |
| up to 100,000 | The flood of 1099 | 1099 |
108 more rowsThe deepest point on the Delaware River is located at Narrowsburg in the Town of Tusten, where the Big Eddy runs 113 feet deep. Normal riffle areas are 2-8 feet in depth and pools range from 12-20 feet deep.
Is the Delaware River still contaminated? ›
Treatment plants along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers provide clean drinking water to about 15 million people. However, urban parts of the Delaware River and its tributaries, like the Schuylkill and Wissahickon, are still too polluted to swim in.
What was the worst river flood in the US history? ›
Notable River Overflows in History:
Mississippi River – 1927: The most devastating river flood in U.S. history occurred during April and May of 1927 when the Mississippi River flooded 16 million acres of land across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
How to tell if a flood is coming? ›
You may notice a stream starting to rise quickly and become muddy. Sometimes flood debris temporarily blocks the water flow upstream. When it breaks free the debris may release a “wall of water” downstream. You may hear a roaring sound upstream as a flood wave moves rapidly toward you.
The term "100-year flood" is used to describe the recurrence interval of floods. The 100-year recurrence interval means that a flood of that magnitude has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year. In other words, the chances that a river will flow as high as the 100-year flood stage this year is 1 in 100.
What are the early warning systems for flood mitigation? ›
Early warning systems for floods comprise four inter-related elements: 1) assessments and knowledge of flood risks in the area, 2) local hazard monitoring (forecasts) and warning service, 3) flood risk dissemination and communication service, and 4) community response capabilities.
Has the Delaware River ever flooded? ›
Record rainfall in October 1903 caused record flooding in the Delaware River Basin. The back-to-back rain events resulting from remnants of Hurricanes Connie and Diane in August 1955 caused record flooding in the Delaware River Basin. The 1955 flood killed 99 people in the Delaware River Basin.
What could cause the death of the Delaware River? ›
Industrial growth and raw sewage in the region in the 20th century killed aquatic life in much of the Delaware River and surrounding streams.
What happened at the Delaware River? ›
Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776 allowed his army to strike the Hessians at Trenton the next morning.
What is the leading cause of floods? ›
The most common cause of flooding is water due to rain and/or snowmelt that accumulates faster than soils can absorb it or rivers can carry it away. Approximately seventy-five percent of all Presidential disaster declarations are associated with flooding.
What caused the Lewes flood? ›
Following three days of exceptionally heavy rain on already saturated ground, the River Ouse overtopped the flood defences and flooded substantial parts of Lewes.
What caused the flood in high water? ›
What Caused The 1997 Central European Flood Featured In High Water. The historic Wroclaw flood featured in the show High Water was caused by two bouts of extensive rainfall that occurred in July 1997.
