National Weather Service Raw Text Product

266 
NOUS42 KTAE 160102
PNSTAE
FLZ007>010-012-108-112-161200-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
802 PM EST Wed Feb 15 2017 /702 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2017/

To: Emergency management officials, news media, and other users. 

Effective Thursday, March 16, 2017 the National Weather Service  
in Tallahassee will modify the flood stage levels for the 
Choctawhatchee River at Bruce [SR-20] (BRUF1) to better reflect 
impacts from flooding along this portion of the river. 

These new flood levels are: 

Action Stage 			11 feet (up 1 foot)
Minor Flood Stage 		14 feet (up 1 foot)
Moderate Flood Stage    17 feet (up 3 feet)
Major Flood Stage 		20 feet (up 3.5 feet) 

This location is a flood only forecast point, which means that  
forecasts are issued for this location whenever the river is 
expected to reach or exceed action stage within the next five 
days. These forecasts are issued by the Southeast River Forecast 
Center in Peachtree City, Georgia. River flood warnings for this 
location are issued by the National Weather Service in Tallahassee
whenever the river is expected to exceed flood stage. 

These updated flood stages were a direct result of analysis of  
historical floods at this location, dating back to 1928, review of
flood impacts in the area, feedback from the Washington and 
Walton County Emergency Management Agencies, and information from 
the Florida Department of Transportation. 

A set of statements have been developed that communicate impacts 
along the Choctawhatchee River at Bruce. These are: 

At 14 feet, Big Cedar, Cowford, and Choctawhatchee River Roads  
begin to flood in Walton County. Flood waters impact storage areas
underneath homes on the west bank of the Choctawatchee River in 
Walton County on these roads. 

At 16 feet, Portions of Big Cedar, Cowford, and Choctawhatchee  
River Roads in Walton County are impassible above this level. 
Structures in the area not elevated begin flooding. Portions of 
Choctaw Road in Washington County begin to flood along with 
Strickland Road in the far southwestern portion of the county. 

At 17 feet, In Walton County, the boat ramp at Big Cedar Road is 
inaccessible at this level. The boat ramp at the end of McCewen 
Street floods at this level. 

At 18 feet, In Walton County, structures on Choctawhatchee River  
Road and Big Cedar Road not elevated are flooded. A few structures
on McCewen Street and Carnation Road begin to flood. Flooding 
begins just north of SR-20 off Howell Bluff Road affecting a few 
residences. 

At 19 feet, In Walton County, several structures not elevated on  
BH Reddick Road begin to flood. Access into the area is severely 
restricted above this level. 

At 20 feet, In Walton County, multiple structures not elevated on  
BH Reddick Road are flooded. In Washington County, structures at 
the end of Choctaw Road begin to flood. Flooding begins at Boynton
Cutoff Road. Roads near Holmes Creek south of Millers Ferry Road 
southward to the confluence with the Choctawhatchee River are 
prone to flooding above this level. Structures on Backwoods Road 
also begin to flood. 

At 21 feet, In Walton County, flooding impacts multiple structures  
south of Black Creek road between Rooks Bluff Road and BH Reddick 
Road. Flooding expands just north of SR-20 off Howell Bluff Road. 

At 22 feet, Structures along Holmes Creek from Millers Ferry Road  
to the confluence with the Choctawhatchee River in Washington 
County are prone to flooding above this level. 

At 24 feet, Significant flooding affects numerous structures  
throughout the lower Choctawhatchee River Basin. 

At 27 feet, Nearly all structures between Black Creek Road and the
west bank of the Choctawhatchee River are flooded. Flooding 
begins to affect more areas south of Shell Landing Road in 
Washington County. 

At 29 feet, Water reaches the base of the SR-20 bridge over the
Choctawhatchee River. The road is subject to closure above this 
level. 

At 31 feet, Portions of SR-20 flood west off the Choctawhatchee  
River bridge. 

At 34 feet, Water reaches the road surface of the SR-20 bridge  
over the Choctawhatchee River.

The data for this forecast point is provided through our partner, 
the US Geological Survey. Without this critical data, forecasts and 
warnings would not be possible at this location. You can learn more 
about this and other stream gages in Florida by visiting: 

http://fl.water.usgs.gov

To get the latest information on this and other river forecast 
points in the Tallahassee area of responsibility, please visit our 
website at: 

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=tae

For further information regarding this change, please contact: 

Kelly G Godsey                              Jane A Hollingsworth
Senior Service Hydrologist                  Meteorologist in Charge
NWS Tallahassee Florida                     NWS Tallahassee Florida
Love Building	                            Love Building
Florida State University                    Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida 32306                  Tallahassee, Florida 32306
850-942-8833    ext 228                     850-942-8833

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