Silver Jackets: Many Partners, One team

SILVER JACKETS

Many Partners, One Team

 
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2018 Silver Jackets Team of the Year: Montana

Saco, MT Historical Marker
Simulated ACE Levee Breach

The 2018 award recognizes the achievements of the Montana Silver Jackets team. The team demonstrates a collaborative approach in its use of advanced technical tools, public outreach and communication, process improvement, and support to local communities resulting in improved flood risk awareness and prompting actions to manage that risk.

Examples of recent activities that earned the Montana team this recognition include:

  • Used innovative technology to provide accurate and easy to understand flood risk information.
    • Completed a 2-Dimensional HEC-RAS floodplain model that assisted Miles City citizens with visualizing potential flood waters and city officials with updating its Emergency Action Plan.
    • Developed a user friendly cell phone application that allows the public to monitor and report ice jam conditions.
  • Implemented a highwater mark signage public outreach campaign spanning multiple communities across the state. The signs were strategically placed and linked to social media and an interactive website that teaches about flood risk management and flood response.
  • Led the development of a new Levee System-Wide Improvement Framework (SWIF) template for the cities of Glasgow, Havre and Forsyth to develop solutions to satisfy multiple levee operation and maintenance requirements to meet USACE standards. The SWIF is also an educational resource about USACE programs, risk communication, risk management, and emergency preparedness activities.
  • Completed analyses to provide communities recent and accurate flood risk information to support its flood risk mitigation decisions and reduce future damages.
    • Conducted a detailed levee breach analysis to incorporate into the city of Glendive’s emergency planning efforts.
    • Completed more accurate flood hazard mapping for Ekalaka allowing the town to choose a new hospital site.

All of these examples showcase the Montana Silver Jackets Team’s ability to be innovative leaders and communicate and collaborate effectively in order to develop useful, relevant end products that are tailored to each community’s unique needs. The successful accomplishments of the team can be attributed to active participation and involvement by multiple state and Federal agencies team members.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supports state-led Silver Jackets Teams through its Flood Risk Management Program.