Final answer:
To determine if a storage site is at risk of flooding, one would use historical flood data, flood frequency curves, and geographic analysis. The data from stream gauges and the history of flooding events, such as the western Georgia flood in September 2009, provide critical insights. Understanding floodplain dynamics and the unpredictability of flooding through recurrence intervals is essential for risk assessment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most reliable way to determine whether a storage site is susceptible to flooding is through a combination of historical data, stream gauge information, and geographic analysis of the area in question. Data from stream gauges, such as those installed by the U.S. Geological Survey, can help to create flood frequency curves that show how often floods of various magnitudes can be expected to occur. This information is crucial for flood control decisions and judging the risk of future flooding events. In particular, examining past incidents like the severe flooding in western Georgia in September 2009 can provide insights into the potential for similar events to occur again. Factors to consider include the physical characteristics of the floodplain, historical flood data, the frequency of past flooding events, and the discharge levels measured during past floods, such as the 21,200 cfs recorded during the September 2009 flood.
Considering the increase in flooding events over the past decades and the change in climate patterns, the likelihood of future similar flooding events can be significant. Furthermore, the recurrence interval concept, which states that a '1 in 100 year flood' has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year, suggests that repeat events are indeed possible and do not follow a predictable pattern. Therefore, such statistical analyses, coupled with environmental and geographic evaluations, are essential in the process of determining if a specific storage site is flood-prone. Using multiple sources of data and understanding the limitations of predictions are key in making an informed assessment of flood susceptibility.