USGS Crews Work To Measure Flood (click here)
The U.S. Geological Survey has 140 locations here in Arkansas. They've been working to gauge the water levels in Arkansas streams and rivers for the past 48 hours.
The data they get will help determine what areas need to be evacuated and what changes need to be made in the future.
A Batesville resident says, “I have been here 15 years and it's never been this bad."
Long before sightseers came out to look at the devastation, USGS crews were out measuring the rivers.
Water Hydrologist Jaysson Funkhouser says, “When floods occur if they get high enough like what we've seen the past few days we'll dispatch crews to fix any broken equipment, make water measurements and verify the peaks that we're monitoring are actually accurate.”
Funkhouser says the USGS doesn't make flooding predictions, but they relay their data to the National Weather Service and Corps of Engineers which than make decisions on evacuations and road closings.
He adds, “For example the Spring River at hardy they actually used the data from one of our gauges right there at the town of hardy to issue a flood warning and the town actually evacuated numerous homes and residence based on that data from the USGS stream station."
Last time the Spring River flooded it was five feet lower than this week's recent flood. It also killed two people. Funkhouser hopes the new equipment is saving lives.
(The reason it was five feet lower is because it wasn't as saturated as it is today.)
The USGS website shows flooding and current water conditions across the state. The black triangles represent real time floods in addition to the flood stage and amount of rain fall.
To see real time data of floods and water conditions click on the link under the picture.
Katherina- Marie Yancy, Backpack Journalist
Created: 3/20/2008 4:05:39 PM
Updated: 3/20/2008 6:12:51 PM
Real-time data typically are recorded at 15-60 minute intervals, stored onsite, and then transmitted to USGS offices every 1 to 4 hours, depending on the data relay technique used. Recording and transmission times may be more frequent during critical events. Data from real-time sites are relayed to USGS offices via satellite, telephone, and/or radio and are available for viewing within minutes of arrival. (click at link to entry)
