A flash flood emergency is a rare and highly serious alert issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) that demands immediate attention and signifies imminent danger. To comprehend the gravity of this alert, it is essential to grasp the distinction between a flash flood warning and a flash flood emergency.
A flash flood warning is a common advisory issued by the NWS when flash flooding is either ongoing or anticipated shortly. These warnings often involve flooded streets and roads, posing risks to motorists and potentially affecting low-lying properties. In 2023 alone, the NWS issued almost 3,700 flash flood warnings.
On the other hand, a flash flood emergency is a higher-level alert introduced by the NWS over two decades ago to underscore rare situations with a major threat to life or the potential for catastrophic damage. This alert is reserved for extraordinary circumstances, and it triggers when:
Tragedy Strikes ‘Pawn Stars’ Family: Rick Harrison’s Son Adam Passes Away at 39
- A local or state emergency manager confirms rapidly rising water that places, or will place, people in a life-threatening situation.
- Water is expected, or has already rapidly risen, to levels where individuals in typically safe locations during other flash flood events are in danger. This may include situations where water could encroach several feet above floor level in a home, necessitating rescue and endangering the entire residence.
- Multiple swift-water rescue teams are deployed to a flash flood of unusual magnitude.
- River and stream gauges indicate water has risen to at least major or rarely seen flood levels.
- There is a complete failure of a large, high-hazard dam that could have a catastrophic impact on downstream areas.
This concept parallels tornado emergencies, which are issued in cases where there is an imminent or ongoing confirmed tornado with severe threats to life and catastrophic damage.
If you receive a flash flood emergency alert on your smartphone:
- Move to higher ground immediately.
- Do not travel unless escaping a flooded area or ordered to evacuate by local officials.
- Avoid walking or driving through floodwater, as it can be deeper than it appears, and the road underneath may have washed out. Even slow-moving water can pose risks, knocking individuals off their feet or floating vehicles downstream.
These flash flood emergencies are relatively rare, with only 29 issued across the country in 2023, comprising less than 1 percent of all NWS flash flood alerts. Some notable events from 2023 include destructive flash floods in Kernville, California; historic flooding in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and multiple flash flood emergencies in New York’s Lower Hudson Valley and parts of Vermont. Each of these events caused at least $1 billion in damages, emphasizing the severe impact of flash flood emergencies.