Media Advisory: USGS Scientists in the Field Preparing for Gustav

[Jennifer LaVista <jlavista@xxxxxxxx>]

Media Advisory

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey


For release:  August 28, 2008
Contact: Eastern States (FL, AL, GA,
MS), AB Wade, 703-648-4483, abwade@xxxxxxxx
         Central
States (LA, TX), Heidi Koontz, 303-202-4763, hkoontz@xxxxxxxx
         Headquarters,
Jennifer LaVista, 703-648-4432, jlavista@xxxxxxxx

Science that Weathers
the Storm:
USGS Scientists in
the Field Preparing for Gustav

Reporters: Want to accompany
USGS scientists as they install mobile gages or storm surge sensors? Contact
Brian McCallum at 404-375-2505 or bemccall@xxxxxxxxx

US Geological Survey (USGS) scientists
will be installing rapidly-deployable mobile gages and storm-surge sensors
to prepare for Tropical Storm Gustav.

These temporary devices are installed
just hours before an impending storm and provide additional real-time monitoring
data in critical areas needed for effective forecasting and emergency response.

“We could not accurately forecast
river flows and water-levels without the data and support we receive from
the USGS,” said Dave Reed, Hydrologist-In-Charge of the National Weather
Service Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center in Slidell, LA. “When
river and tide data are not available, our job of forecasting is much more
difficult and typically results in diminished accuracy of those forecasts.”


A special interactive USGS Water
Hazards Map will be available tomorrow, which will provide real-time flooding
and storm surge data from Gulf Coast streamgages and temporary devices.
This information is imperative to local, State and Federal officials in
order to forecast floods and coordinate flood-response activities in the
affected area. Track changes in streamflow, ground-water levels, and water
quality in a Google Map interface and access other USGS Tropical Storm
Gustav efforts by visiting http://www.usgs.gov/gustav.


Access real-time data from over
7,500 streamgages across the country by visiting the USGS Water Watch Website
at http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/.
. 
Rapidly deployed mobile stations
provide special, short-term data in critical areas lacking long-term streamgages.
These mobile real-time stations will help emergency needs and improve coastal
flood forecasts. They provide up-to-the-minute data that is critical to
the National Weather Service and other partners involved in issuing flood
warnings and the evacuation of communities. 

USGS also has a network of rugged,
inexpensive water-level and barometric-pressure sensors, called storm-surge
sensors, which will be installed right before Gustav hits land. These sensors
provide information about storm surge duration, times of surge arrival
and retreat, and maximum depths, which is useful in forecasting and modeling
future events. Tropical Storms Katrina and Rita vividly demonstrated that
coastal storm surge can be as dangerous as inland flooding caused by rain.

For more than 125 years, the USGS has monitored flow in selected streams and rivers across the United States and does so in cooperation with over 850 federal, state and local agencies.

State Contacts:

If you would like to know more specific information about USGS Tropical Storm Gustav response activities in your area, please contact the appropriate person listed below.

Alabama: Athena Clark, 334-395-4141, athclark@xxxxxxxx
Florida: Barry Rosen, 407-803-5508, brosen@xxxxxxxx
Georgia: Ed Martin, 770-903-9166, ehmartin@xxxxxxxx
Louisiana: Charles Demas, 225-298-5481 Ext. 3117, crdemas@xxxxxxxx
Mississippi: Michael Plunkett, 601-933-2940, plunkett@xxxxxxxx
Texas: Robert Joseph, 512-927-3500, rljoseph@xxxxxxxx

USGS provides science for a changing world. For more information, visit www.usgs.gov.

Subscribe to USGS News Releases via our electronic mailing list or RSS feed.

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

Jennifer LaVista
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Communications
703-648-4432
Email: jlavista@xxxxxxxx
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