def METHOD_NAME():
    '''
    create dir for output data/files
    module scope so it is only executed the first time it is used
    '''
    # fixme: this SHOULD use pytest fixtures ability to know what module
    # its running it to create the dir
    this_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
    dump_loc = os.path.join(this_dir, "output_tideflat_map")
    try:
        shutil.rmtree(dump_loc)
    #fixme: what Exception??
    except Exception:
        pass
    try:
        os.makedirs(dump_loc)
    except Exception:
        pass
    return dump_loc