The U.S. Geological Survey announced the completion of a new mobile tool that
provides real-time information on water levels, weather and flood
forecasts all in one place on a computer, smartphone or other
mobile device.
The new USGS National
Water Dashboard, or NWD, provides critical information to
decision-makers, emergency managers and the public during flood
events, informing decisions that can help protect lives and
property. Information from the NWD could help inform forecasting,
response and recovery efforts for agencies such as the National
Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal, state and local
agencies. The tool can be used by forecasters and local emergency
managers as they issue flood- and evacuation warnings, verify
safe evacuation routes and coordinate emergency response efforts.
The NWD can assist the USACE as they manage water supplies in
river basins and operate flood-control reservoirs. During a
drought, the tool can help state resource managers identify areas
where water supplies are at risk.
The NWD presents real-time stream, lake and reservoir,
precipitation and groundwater data from more than 13,500 USGS
observation stations across the country. This information is
shown along with NOAA weather data such as radar, watches and
warnings, past precipitation totals, precipitation forecasts and
drought conditions from other open
water-data sources. The NWD also links to
the USGS
WaterAlert system, which sends out instant, customized
updates about water conditions.
If you’d like to learn more about this useful tool or give it
try, please visit:
