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2002-R927 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jerry Slaff 10/1/02 |
NOAA News Releases 2002 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs |
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NOAA ANNOUNCES
$3.15 MILLION GRANT TO NORTH CAROLINA The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded a $3.15 million grant to the North Carolina Flood Plain Mapping Program (NCFPMP) in Raleigh, N.C., to improve the state’s flood observation and warning system. In cooperation with NOAA’s National Weather Service, the program’s Real-time Flood Inundation and Forecast Mapping System will produce maps that depict flooded areas, and areas expected to become flooded in the near future. These maps will made available to Federal agencies and the general public on the Internet. “The Bush Administration and NOAA are proud to make this award to the state of North Carolina,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “Through grants like this, we enable state agencies to work cooperatively with us to understand the Earth’s oceans and atmosphere and develop ways to safeguard our citizens from natural disasters.” The grant will allow NCFPMP to work with three federal and state agencies on the project: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) will install and operate new stream gauges in the state’s Tar-Pimlico River Basin, extend the usefulness of the basin’s existing gauges, and apply new high-resolution data to the current hydrology models used to forecast areas at risk of flooding. The North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NC CGIA), will define specifications and a timetable for the newly improved system, and develop and implement the databases and other computer applications to gather, analyze, and disseminate the data. The agency will also integrate its geographic information system (GIS) data on the locations of public schools, assisted living centers, and water and sewer treatment plants into the system. The center will also develop the system’s abilities to post its information on the Internet. The State Climate Office of North Carolina, the official record keeper of the state’s weather and climate data, will incorporate its data into the system. NOAA will award over $800 million in grants during 2002 to members of the academic, scientific, and business communities to assist the agency fulfill its mission which is to study the Earth’s natural systems in order to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property, and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. Our goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for 32 years. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. To
learn more about NOAA and its grants programs, please visit http://www.noaa.gov. |