Manatee County is susceptible to flood inundation caused by tropical storms, hurricanes, El Nino, and other extreme weather phenomena. With the recent experience of flooding from a “no name” storm event in 2017 (18 inches in a three-day period), attention has been given to monitoring and preparing for future flood events. Real-Time Flood Forecasting (RTFF) provides up to three-day advance forecasting of both rainfall and coastal conditions and also the ability to operate user-defined scenarios. Through programming and flood migitation recommendations, the county’s stormwater engineering staff devised an innovative/cost-effective approach to utilize remotely-operated slide gates to release runoff from existing stormwater facilities prior to a forecasted storm event. However, the hurricane events of 2024 (Debby, Helene, and Milton) proved to be a forecasting and decision-making challenge. The 2024 Hurricane Season would prove to test these innovative technologies. Learn how in this session.