USGS Home Page


<font face='Univers condensed',Helvetica,Arial size=+2>News Release

<font face='Univers condensed',Helvetica,Arial size=-1>U.S. Department of the Interior
<font face='Univers condensed',Helvetica,Arial size=-1>U.S. Geological Survey

<font face='Univers condensed',Helvetica,Arial size=-1>Address
Office of Communication
119 National Center
Reston, VA 20192
<font face='Univers condensed',Helvetica,Arial size=-1>Release
Sept. 2, 2004
<font face='Univers condensed',Helvetica,Arial size=-1>Contact
Michelle Barret
Diane Noserale
<font face='Univers condensed',Helvetica,Arial size=-1>Phone
601-933-2932; 601-594-6234 (cell)
703-648-4333
<font face='Univers condensed',Helvetica,Arial size=-1>Fax


<font face='Univers condensed',Helvetica,Arial size=+2>From the Stream to Your Desktop…Track Hurricane Flooding in Real-Time

Did you know that from your desk you can monitor the effect of Hurricane Frances on the already soaked eastern seaboard? The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) WaterWatch Web site can show you what’s happening to streams in your local area and show you the places most affected by heavy rains expected from these storms.

From the website http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/, click on your state to select a gaging station on a local stream. Most pages show at what water level rivers will overflow their banks. That information is important for a number of reasons as many places in the eastern U.S. are already experiencing above-average flows. You can produce customized graphs and tables showing stream level for the past 1-31 days.

The USGS operates a network of more than 8,000 stream gages throughout the country and provides this real-time information to the National Weather Service where it is used for flood forecasting as well as to notify emergency managers. Field personnel collect data, or the gages relay it through telephones or satellites to offices where it is processed automatically in near real time. In many cases, the data are available online within minutes.

For more information on USGS flood-related activities, please see: http://water.usgs.gov/osw/

USGS water resources district offices are located in each state. They can provide more detailed information on stream conditions and on the USGS response to local events: http://water.usgs.gov/district_chief.html

For more information on USGS storm-related activities, please see the following sites:

USGS Hurricane and Extreme Storm Impact Studies
http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/index.html

USGS Maps Coastal Vulnerabilities to Storms
http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/mappingchange/

The USGS serves the nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

To receive USGS news releases go to www.usgs.gov/public/list_server.html

**** www.usgs.gov ****



USGS Home page
Index of USGS News Releases

U.S. Geological Survey, MS119 National Center, Reston, VA 20192, USA
URL http://www.usgs.gov/public/press/public_affairs/press_releases/pr1915m.html
Contact: mbarret@usgs.gov
Last Modification: 9-2-2004@3:21pm(HF)