References for Flood Warning System Planning Studies

USACE Guidance

EM 1110-2-1417 (USACE, 1994)
USACE. 1994. Flood-Runoff Analysis. EM 1110-2-1417, 31 August 1994. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. Chapters 10 and 17 address model calibration and frequency-based runoff analysis. Available from USACE Engineer Manuals.

EM 1110-2-1619 (USACE, 2025)
USACE. 2025. Risk Assessment for Flood Risk Management and Coastal Storm Risk Management Studies. EM 1110-2-1619, 29 September 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. Supersedes the 1 August 1996 edition. Paragraph 2-3 covers expected annual consequences; Chapter 11, Figure 11-1, and Table 11-1 address life loss and warning/evacuation timelines. Available from USACE Engineer Manuals.

EP 1110-2-19 (USACE, 2025)
USACE. 2025. Inundation Maps and Emergency Action Plans and Incident Management for Dams and Levee Systems. EP 1110-2-19, 12 June 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. Paragraph 12 gives emergency action planning instructions for USACE-operated or -maintained dam and levee systems. Available from USACE Engineer Pamphlets.

ER 1105-2-101 (USACE, 2019, with 2022 errata)
USACE. 2019. Risk Assessment for Flood Risk Management Studies. ER 1105-2-101, 15 July 2019 (Errata Sheet, 1 September 2022). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. Risk-assessment requirements, including uncertainty, life safety, and residual risk. Available from USACE Engineer Regulations.

ER 1105-2-103 (USACE, 2023)
USACE. 2023. Planning Policy for Conducting Civil Works Planning Studies. ER 1105-2-103, 7 November 2023 (effective 7 December 2023). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. Supersedes Chapters 1 through 3 of ER 1105-2-100, 22 April 2000; it does not supersede that regulation in its entirety. Available from USACE Engineer Regulations.

ER 1110-2-8165 (USACE, 2024)
USACE. 2024. Inundation Maps and Emergency Action Plans and Incident Management for Dams and Levee Systems. ER 1110-2-8165, 24 September 2024 (effective 24 October 2024). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. Paragraphs 8 and 12 address emergency objectives, coordination, and emergency action plans within the USACE dam and levee safety programs. Available from USACE Engineer Regulations.

ECB 2026-1 (USACE, 2026)
USACE. 2026. Incorporating Resilience to Nonstationary Hydrometeorological Conditions in USACE Civil Works Studies, Designs, and Projects. ECB 2026-1, 9 January 2026; expires 9 January 2028. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. Paragraphs 4c through 4f distinguish applicability and exceptions; section 8 addresses planning studies. Available from Whole Building Design Guide.

HEC Software Documentation

📖 HEC-HMS User's Manual

Current input, forecasting, and repeat-computation procedures.

• Time-Series Data — gage inputs and external HEC-DSS records
• Precipitation — Specified Hyetograph and frequency-based storm inputs
• Forecast Alternatives — look-back period, time of forecast, and future meteorology
• Adjusting Parameters for the Forecast — zone/element adjustments and Combined Parameter Editor
• Scripting — documented Java and Jython interfaces
• Ensemble Simulations — organizing multiple compute scenarios

📐 HEC-HMS Technical Reference Manual

Theory and assumptions behind precipitation inputs used in this chapter.

• Specified Hyetograph — user-prepared rainfall sequences and interpolation
• Frequency Storm — nested precipitation depths and frequency assumptions

🛠️ HEC-HMS Tutorials and Guides

Examples supporting forecast scenarios and current optimization tools.

• Applying the Ensemble Compute to Flood Forecasting — alternative meteorology and basin-model scenarios
• Optimization Trial Enhancements — multiple targets, sequential searches, and zone parameters associated with current forecast optimization workflows

📊 HEC-DSSVue User's Manual

Preparing and checking separate precipitation scenario records.

• Duplicating Records — distinct pathnames for controlled input copies
• Editing Tabular Data — editing values and treatment of missing data
• Time Series Conventions — record data types, pathnames, and time conventions

Historical and Technical Sources

ETL 1110-2-540 (USACE, 1996)
USACE. 1996. Hydrologic Aspects of Flood Warning-Preparedness Programs. ETL 1110-2-540, 30 September 1996. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. Historical source for the chapter's warning-time framework; paragraph 4-6b and Figure 4-4 discuss the generic Day Curve as a reasonableness check. The original text was located in a third-party reproduction; current administrative status and a direct successor have not been confirmed. Retained for historical explanation, not as current procedural authority.

IWR (1994)
Yoe, C. 1994. Framework for Estimating National Economic Development Benefits and Other Beneficial Effects of Flood Warning and Preparedness Systems. IWR Report 94-R-3, March 1994. Institute for Water Resources, Alexandria, VA. Historical planning framework retained for this chapter's economic discussion. Catalog record: USACE IWR Library (identifier 1994-RPT-03).

NHWC (n.d.)
National Hydrologic Warning Council. ALERT2 Technical Working Group. Accessed 15 October 2026. Current protocol resources and links to historical ALERT documents. ALERT2 Technical Working Group.