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Flood of June 7–9, 2008, in Central and Southern Indiana

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Flood of June 7–9, 2008, in Central and Southern Indiana In Cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Flood of June 7–9, 2008, in Central and Southern Indiana Open-File Report 2008–1322 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover images: Home flooded by the White River near Spencer, Indiana, June 9, 2008 (photograph by Chad Menke, U.S. Geological Survey) and part of an inundation map showing approximate flood-peak extents and depths, June 7–9, 2008, for Haw Creek at Columbus, Indiana (entire map is in Appendix 2 of the report). Flood of June 7–9, 2008, in Central and Southern Indiana By Scott E. Morlock, Chad D. Menke, Donald V. Arvin, and Moon H. Kim In Cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Open-File Report 2008–1322 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Morlock, S.E., Menke, C.D., Arvin, D.V., and Kim, M.H., 2008, Flood of June 7–9, 2008, in central and southern Indiana: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2008–1322, 15 p., 3 app. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1 Conditions Leading to the Flood ..................................................................................................................3 Collection of High-Water-Mark Data ..........................................................................................................5 Methods of Estimating the Magnitudes and Recurrence Intervals of Peak Streamflows ................5 Estimation of Magnitudes ....................................................................................................................5 Estimation of Recurrence Intervals ...................................................................................................9 Estimated Magnitudes and Recurrence Intervals of Peak Streamflows for the Flood of June 7–9, 2008..................................................................................................................11 Flood-Peak Inundation Maps ............................................................................................................11 Flood-Peak Profiles.............................................................................................................................11 Description of Flood Damages and Impacts ...........................................................................................11 Summary........................................................................................................................................................12 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................13 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................13 Glossary .........................................................................................................................................................14 Appendix 1. Site Descriptions and High-Water Marks at Study Sites, Flood of June 7–9, 2008, Indiana. ...............................................................[separate document] Appendix 2. Flood-Peak Inundation Maps for Selected Study Streams and Communities, Flood of June 7–9, 2008, Indiana. ......................................[separate document] Appendix 3. Flood-Peak Elevation Profiles for Selected Sites, Flood of June 7–9, 2008, Indiana. ..............................................................................[separate document] Figures 1. Map showing study area in central and southern Indiana. .............................................2 2. Map showing estimated rainfall grid and rainfall totals for the National Weather Service stations (by station name) listed in table 1.. ........................................................4 3. Graph showing cumulative hourly rainfall during June 6–7, 2008, recorded at the National Weather Service precipitation station at Spencer, Owen County, Indiana. .....................................................................................................................................5 4. Map showing locations of selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages and ungaged sites...................................................................................................................8 Tables 1. Total rainfall estimates for June 6–7, 2008, and average-recurrence-interval rainfalls for a 24-hour duration at selected National Weather Services precipitation stations..............................................................................................................3 2. Flood-peak gage heights, peak discharges, and estimated recurrence intervals during the flood of June 6–7, 2008, at selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in Indiana. ........................................................................................................6 3. Estimated peak discharges and estimated recurrence intervals during the flood of June 6–7, 2008, at selected ungaged locations in Indiana. .............................10 iv Conversion Factors, Datums, and Abbreviations Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm) inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) Area acre 4,047 square meter (m2) acre 0.4047 hectare (ha) Volume cubic foot (ft3) 28.32 cubic decimeter (dm3) cubic foot (ft3) 0.02832 cubic meter (m3) Flow rate cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s) inch per hour (in/h) 0 .0254 meter per hour (m/h) Vertical elevation (altitude) information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) or the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29). Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum. Abbreviations AML Arc macro language DEM Digital elevation model EDT Eastern Daylight Time FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency GIS Geographic Information System IDHS Indiana Department of Homeland Security IDNR Indiana Department of Natural Resources NAVD 88 North American Vertical Datum of 1988 NGVD 29 National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 NWS National Weather Service TIN Triangular irregular network USGS U.S. Geological Survey Flood of June 7–9, 2008, in Central and Southern Indiana By Scott E. Morlock, Chad D. Menke, Donald V. Arvin, and Moon H. Kim Abstract (IDHS) need timely information on the magnitudes and recur- rence intervals of floods to help respond to flood damage, pre- On June 6–7, 2008, heavy rainfall of 2 to more than serve emergency response management, protect infrastructure, 10 inches fell upon saturated soils and added to already high provide recovery guidance from the National Flood Insurance streamflows from a wetter than normal spring in central and Program and State regulatory programs, and plan for future southern Indiana. The heavy rainfall resulted in severe flood- flood events. ing on many streams within the White River Basin during Heavy rains caused severe flooding on June 7–9, 2008, in June 7–9, causing three deaths, evacuation of thousands of parts of central and southern Indiana. Rainfall amounts from residents, and hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to about 2 in. to more than 10 in. fell in south-central Indiana on residences, businesses, infrastructure, and agricultural lands. June 6–7 (Shipe, 2008), causing the National Weather Service In all, 39 Indiana counties were declared Federal disaster (NWS), by June 9, to issue 21 flash-flood warnings, 10 areal areas. flood warnings, and 10 river flood warnings and statements U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages at nine (David Tucek, National Weather Service, written commun., locations recorded new record peak streamflows for the August 2008). A state of emergency was declared on June 7 in respective periods of record as a result of the heavy rain- the affected areas; and during June 7–9, there were numerous fall. Recurrence intervals of flood-peak streamflows were evacuations and water rescues in communities affected by the estimated to be greater than 100 years at five streamgages flooding.
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