While the initial FFW was good they were hours too late with the FFE.
While I think it is fair to debate if the NWS policy should be changed, I fell like the forecasters acted within the current policy found at
https://www.weather.gov/media/directives/010_pdfs/pd01009022curr.pdf which says:
"Examples of situations which warrant the inclusion of flash flood emergency language in flash flood warnings may include, but are not limited to:
● Emergency manager(s) of the affected county(ies) or the state emergency management association declare a state of emergency and have confirmed that rapidly rising floodwaters are placing or will place people in life-threatening situations. The state of emergency for the affected areas may have been previously relayed by the emergency manager(s) or the state emergency management association through the WFO in a Non-Weather Emergency Message. These might include a Civil Emergency Message (CEM), an Evacuate Immediate (EVI), or a Local Area Emergency (LAE).
● Water has rapidly risen or will rapidly rise to levels where people who are ordinarily in safe locations during previous flash flood events are now placed in life-threatening situations. For example, people in homes that might see waters rapidly rise up to their front yards or steps during typical flash flood situations would experience waters that are several feet above floor level, such that rescue is necessary and/or their entire home is threatened.
● Multiple swift water rescue teams have been or are being deployed in response to flash flooding of an exceptional magnitude.
● Stream gages, where available, indicate floodwaters have risen rapidly to at least major levels, or if gages are not available, floodwaters have risen to levels rarely, if ever, seen.
● Total failure of a major high hazard dam that would have a catastrophic impact on the downstream communities.
In situations where a robust emergency management structure does not exist or external communications are not possible, a WFO may include flash flood emergency language in a flash flood warning without pre-coordinating with emergency managers when the above or similar criteria are met."
I read all this to say to the forecaster that they need external confirmation that a rare life-threating extreme flooding event is already happening in order to issue the "emergency" tag. They do the same thing with the tornado emergencies and only issue them when a populated area is in the path of a very dangerous tornado that has been confirmed to be occurring. The emergency tag is designed to get attention and if they issued emergencies on the forecast alone it would become so over used that most would ignore the emergency tag.
