PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
249 PM EST TUE DEC 27 2011

...FLOOD STAGE AT SCIOTO RIVER AT PIKETON TO BE RAISED JANUARY 31...

ON JANUARY 31, 2012...THE FLOOD STAGE FOR THE SCIOTO RIVER AT
PIKETON WILL BE RAISED FROM 18 FEET TO 20 FEET. THIS DECISION IS
BASED ON COORDINATION WITH BOTH THE PIKE AND SCIOTO COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.

THE HISTORIC FLOOD STAGE AT PIKETON WAS SET TO 18 FEET...BUT A RIVER
STAGE AT THIS LEVEL RESULTS IN MAINLY FLOODING OF FIELDS AND LOW
LYING AREAS. FLOODING OF ROADS AND HIGHER IMPACT LOCATIONS DOES NOT
OCCUR UNTIL 20 FEET. WITH THE SCIOTO RIVER NEAR PIKETON HAVING A WIDE
FLOOD PLAIN AND NOT A RAPIDLY RESPONDING RIVER AT THIS POINT...THE
CHANGE IN FLOOD STAGE IS AN EFFORT TO BETTER REPRESENT A FLOOD
THREAT ALONG THE LOWER SCIOTO RIVER AFFECTING PIKE AND SCIOTO COUNTIES.

THE NWS OFFICE IN WILMINGTON WILL ISSUE FLOOD WARNINGS WHEN THE
UPSTREAM CRESTS AND FORECAST RAINFALL INDICATE THE SCIOTO RIVER AT
PIKETON IS EXPECTED TO MEET OR EXCEED THE NEW 20 FOOT FLOOD STAGE...
AT WHICH POINT MINOR FLOODING OCCURS.

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING IMPACTS AT SPECIFIC RIVER
LEVELS...REFER TO THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE (ALL LOWER CASE)

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ILN/RIVERS...THEN SELECT THE LOCATION INFORMATION
FOR THE SCIOTO RIVER AT PIKETON.

FOR QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT:

JULIE DIAN-REED
SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
NWS WILMINGTON
937-383-0031