Laserfiche WebLink
<br />expensive. That is still largely true. The cost was <br />prohibitive for many owners (even those who, as a minority, <br />recognized the need to develop such information). <br /> <br />In an effort to bring the cost down to a level affordable by <br />most dam owners and emergency managers, FEMA and the National <br />Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) entered into an <br />interagency agreement to develop and publish a simplified <br />version of the National Weather Services (NWS) computerized <br />dam-break flood forecasting model (DAMBRK). The model, as well <br />as the simplified version, is based on work now being done at <br />NOAA's Hydrologic Research Laboratory. The original model, on <br />which the simplified version is based, is a highly <br />sophisticated and precise analytical tool to predict <br />innundation areas downstream of dams in the event of failure. <br /> <br />The simplified version is no less sophisticated. However, any <br />time a sophisticated analytic tool is "simplified" certain <br />compromises and assumptions are required. This results in a <br />model which simply won't work for all the cases in which the <br />original model was effective. This is especially true for this <br />model when analyzing complex hydrologic regimes. The authors <br />have identified several model limitations; the user is <br />cautioned to heed these warnings. Complex regimes for which <br />this model may not work can be handled by more sophisticated, <br />data intensive versions of this, or other models. Such models <br />may be available from the authors of this report or from <br />professional engineers trained and experienced in dam failure <br />analysis. <br /> <br />This report provlaes the model in forms and languages suitable <br />for specific microcomputers, both desk-top and hand-held. The <br />use of specific computers does not necessarily constitute an <br />endorsement of the machines. The intent was to provide the <br />model in sufficiently different torms as to increase the <br />chances of a user either having a similar machine or ot being <br />able to translate the model into a language useable on an <br />available machine. <br /> <br />With these cautions, we hope this aocument will assist dam <br />owners and emergency managers identify the inundation areas so <br />important to emergency action plans which will reduce the <br />likelihood of the loss of life in the event of a dam failure. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />viii <br />