Grants To Measure River Basin Vulnerability Awarded To University of North Carolina
Release Date: December 13, 2001
Release Number: R4-01-40
Atlanta, GA -- Federal and state grants valued at $170,900 are being awarded to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to develop a method for determining the changes in vulnerability of a river basin to the impact of natural disasters.
In making the announcement, Kenneth O. Burris, Jr., Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) region IV director said, "you can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you are. This project will give local governments the tools they need to decide if their river basins are becoming more vulnerable, or less vulnerable, to the effects of natural hazards."
"The ultimate goal of this project is to reduce the property damage and destruction by improving our hazard mitigation efforts," said Eric Tolbert, N.C. Emergency Management director. "Both state and local governments will be able to gather and analyze data useful in effective hazard mitigation planning."
Researchers will study such issues, for example, as the impact of development outside of the area that will allow greater amounts of rainwater to flow into the basin instead of seeping into the ground that has been covered outside of the basin.
FEMA's share of the grants is $128,175, while North Carolina will provide the remaining $42,725. The university's Department of City and Regional Planning will conduct the project.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 01-Oct-2003 10:58:59