The Kansas Hazard Mitigation Team (KHMT), under joint leadership of the state's Department of Agriculture's Division of Water Resources and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, is the long-standing entity managing participation in state-level hazard mitigation. As the KHMT has existed longer than the inception of Silver Jackets and has many of the same objectives, the state has chosen to not stand up a separate "Silver Jackets" group under a different name. The USACE Silver Jackets Coordinators participate on the KHMT. This fact sheet describes Silver Jackets in Kansas.

USACE and Federal Partners Regional Map

Index of Web Pages for Kansas Silver Jackets

• Top Team Priorities
• New Projects
• Recent Projects
• Success Stories
• Flood Management Plans (FMPs) and Floodplain Management Planning
• Innovative Inundation Mapping
• Levee Safety Work

Trending Web Pages for the KHMT

• USACE Silver Jackets supports FEMA Region VII Community Rating System Symposium 2021
• A playbook for managing and mitigating flood hazards is developing for Ottawa, KS. Learn more: Floodplain Management Planning
• Kansas' new levee safety web page
• The KDWR historic flood photos web page
• The KDWR Flood Report tool for reporting recurring flood hazard locations

Recognition

The Federal Executive Board in Kansas City recognized the Silver Jackets projects that provide multiple flood forecast inundation maps with a trophy on August 8, 2017. The recognition was made on account of the innovative partnering combining the technical services of the NWS, USACE, and USGS with the state hazard mitigation teams.  

Third Place Innovation Connection Trophy Awarded to Kansas & Missouri Silver Jackets Teams:

On August 21, 2012, peer state hazard mitigation programs selected the KHMT as the 2011 State Silver Jackets Team of the Year.

• USACE Headquarters selected 3 new projects. (see New Projects)
  • Ottawa Flood Forecast Inundation Mapping for a portion of the Marais Des Cygnes River
  • Risk Outreach and Communication in Kansas (ROCK)
  • Kansas Healthy Watersheds
• Revised flood forecast inundation maps (FFIMs) for Missouri River downstream of Leavenworth, KS flood warning tool. The FFIMs combine NWS forecast stages with levee heights. FFIMs won an award, too
• In Ottawa, KS: This 2-minute video explains the process of flood risk management planning process.

Recurring Flood Area Identification and Outreach

KDA Division of Water Resource established Flood Report as a shared database and web mapping tool for flood hazard locations. As of March 5, 2019, communities had identified 184 sites, since the web site went online March 21, 2018. The project incentivized identifying sites by offering free bringing NOAA National Weather Service Turn Around Don't Drown signs. The team provided 186 signs to 10 communities.

Flood Report helps the state in several ways. The database is useful to NOAA NWS for enhancing flood forecasts for areas sensitive to flood hazards. For areas with flash flooding, this could prevent loss of life. Data stored includes flood information, weather, climate, river forecasting, and emergency contacts lists. At USACE, the Silver Jackets Coordinators and Floodplain Management Service program managers can use the database to better understand where to provide technical assistance to communities. The results will strengthen the state hazard mitigation planning efforts and help prioritize future flood mitigation actions.

The project has been a partnership between the KDA Division of Water Resources, the NOAA National Weather Service, USACE, and FEMA's Community Engagement and Risk Communication initiative, and other agencies.

Communities that entered flood hazard data in the DWR web tool received multiple TADD signs for each location. Most road overtopping locations received two signs. One for each direction.

DWR and the Kansas Hazard Mitigation Team will continue to host Flood Report on the web for the foreseeable future. Communities have multiple options for how they can make entries, as noted below:

1. Geographically, using a web tool supported by Kansas DWR: Flood Area ID Web Map
2. Communities can also mail information to Kansas DWR, 6531 SE Forbes Ave. Ste. B Topeka, KS 66619.
3. A community may also contact Kansas DWR staff to assist via phone or email.

Historic Flood Signs for High Water Marks in Kansas

This project provided 24 free signs for 17 different communities in Kansas by 2019. The signs provide a historic story and picture of flooding in the community and raise awareness on flood risks. The signs remind property owners and developers to diversify their flood risk management actions to be resilient to floods in the area. Partners included the KDA Division of Water Resources (DWR), the Kansas Historical Society, USGS, and NOAA NWS. Participating communities included Arkansas City, Coffeyville, Edwardsville, Florence, Fort Scott, Hays, Junction City, Lawrence, Marion, Natoma, Ottawa, Riley County, Silver Lake, Strong City, Topeka, Wamego, and Washington. DWR's web site hosts additional photos here.

Read more

Nonstructural Assessment for Florence, KS

Kansas City District, in coordination with Tulsa District, established a report on how the city and county may diversify its flood risk solutions behind the Florence Levee. In the report shared in October 2018, a nonstructural assessment provides useful technical information to the city, county, and state hazard mitigation planners. The effort provides flood mitigation solutions for almost 300 buildings. Planners provide insight to guide property owners, possibly elevating to a height above flood elevations, and possibly flood proofing or relocation. The recommendations also will enhance the city's emergency action plan, address critical infrastructure in the leveed area, guide the community in the use of existing NWS and USGS tools, and emphasize the importance of flood insurance for the community's long-term resilience to floods.

Florence, Kansas Risk Management Options (pdf, 10.2 MB)