Full Notification

Good morning. Huntsville-Madison County EMA would like to update you on the status of river flood warnings that impact Madison County.

First, the Tennessee River is in Flood Warning until further notice:

524 AM CDT TUE MAY 7 2013

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE TENNESSEE RIVER AT WHITESBURG.
* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
* AT 4 AM TUESDAY THE STAGE WAS 18.1 FEET AND RISING.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 17.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* RECENT ACTIVITY...THE MAXIMUM RIVER STAGE IN THE 24 HOURS ENDING AT
4 AM TUESDAY WAS 18.1 FEET.
* FORECAST...THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 20.4 FEET BY
AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. ADDITIONAL RISES MAY BE POSSIBLE
THEREAFTER.
* IMPACT...AT 21.0 FEET...BACKWATER CAUSES FLOODING ON REDSTONE
ARSENAL. SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IS OCCURRING ON THE MORGAN COUNTY
SIDE OF THE RIVER WITH HUNDREDS OF ACRES AND SEVERAL HOMES AND
ROADS FLOODED. .
* FLOOD HISTORY...THIS CREST COMPARES TO A PREVIOUS CREST OF 19.5 FEET
ON MAR 11 2011.

Second, the Flint River is in Flood Warning until this afternoon:

532 AM CDT TUE MAY 7 2013

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE FLINT RIVER AT BROWNSBORO.
* UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON.
* AT 5 AM TUESDAY THE STAGE WAS 17.4 FEET AND FALLING.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 17.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* RECENT ACTIVITY...THE MAXIMUM RIVER STAGE IN THE 24 HOURS ENDING AT
7 PM MONDAY WAS 17.3 FEET.
* FORECAST...THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE FALLING TO AROUND 17.0 FEET
THIS EVENING...REMAINING BELOW FLOOD STAGE THEREAFTER.
* IMPACT...AT 17.0 FEET...WATER FLOODS A LARGE FIELD ON THE UPSTREAM
LEFT BANK AND IS FLOODING LARGE PORTIONS OF THE DOWNSTREAM LEFT
BANK.
* FLOOD HISTORY...THIS CREST COMPARES TO A PREVIOUS CREST OF 17.4 FEET
ON APR 5 2011.

Third, the Paint Rock River is in Flood Warning until in the morning (Wednesday 5/8/13):

521 AM CDT TUE MAY 7 2013

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE PAINT ROCK RIVER NEAR WOODVILLE.
* UNTIL WEDNESDAY MORNING.
* AT 5 AM TUESDAY THE STAGE WAS 17.5 FEET AND CRESTING.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 16.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* RECENT ACTIVITY...THE MAXIMUM RIVER STAGE IN THE 24 HOURS ENDING AT
5 AM TUESDAY WAS 17.5 FEET.
* FORECAST...THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE TO FALL TO BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY
AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
* IMPACT...AT 16.0 FEET...FLOOD WATERS AFFECT MOSTLY BOTTOMLAND ALONG
THE RIVER...INCLUDING LOW-LYING FARM AND PASTURELANDS.
* FLOOD HISTORY...THIS CREST COMPARES TO A PREVIOUS CREST OF 17.2 FEET
ON NOV 29 2011.

Safety Message:

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED ROAD. THE
DEPTH OF WATER IS NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS. AS LITTLE AS TWO FEET OF WATER
WILL CARRY MOST CARS AWAY. ALSO...THE ROAD BED MAY BE WASHED OUT
UNDER THE WATER...AND YOU COULD BE STRANDED OR TRAPPED.

Please keep an eye on the forecast with regards to the river flood situation. This morning, the National Weather Service stated the following in their Hazardous Weather Outlook:

"MULTIPLE PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED FROM
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY IN ADVANCE OF AND ALONG A COLD FRONT. LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE ONCE AGAIN DURING THE PERIOD...WHICH MAY
AGGRAVATE ALREADY ELEVATED RIVER LEVELS."

- Huntsville - Madison County EMA (SW)

Instructions:

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED ROAD. THE
DEPTH OF WATER IS NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS. AS LITTLE AS TWO FEET OF WATER
WILL CARRY MOST CARS AWAY. ALSO...THE ROAD BED MAY BE WASHED OUT
UNDER THE WATER...AND YOU COULD BE STRANDED OR TRAPPED.