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Wettest month overall since November 2000.
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First time any month finished at exactly 10 inches
of rain.
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First time since 1997 March has been above normal
on rainfall and only the second time out of the
last 10 years.
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Measurable precipitation (0.01 inches or more)
fell on 15 days in March.
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Three days in March received at least one inch
of rain fall.
Press
Release (pdf
printable version)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Telephone: 501/682-4301
Fax: 501/682-4310
http://www.cio.state.ar.us
April
2, 2002
Recent Floods Give Arkansas GIS Technology Good
Example
The
rains of March 2002 have left an aftermath of flooded
farmlands, lost crops and rivers cresting at monumental
heights. Arkansas received exactly 10 inches of rain
for the month of March, making it the third wettest
March on record since 1880. The recent floods have given
the Arkansas Geographic Information Office (AGIO) a
good example of one of the many uses of geographic information
systems (GIS) technologies.
Under
the leadership of the Land Information Board, AGIO
began gathering vital satellite image data of the
north central and north east areas of the White River
as a way to demonstrate the extent of the flooding
of the White River area in northeast Arkansas. The
satellite image data was collected by the Landsat
7 satellite system on Friday, March 22, 2002, and
down linked to the U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Repository
Observation System (EROS) Data Center in Sioux Falls,
South Dakota. The satellite data was then channeled
through the second generation Internet network to
the University of Arkansas, Center for Advanced Spatial
Technologies (CAST). Upon reaching CAST the data was
preprocessed and uploaded into GeoStor where the data
can then be accessed, searched and retrieved by policy
makers, managers and response decision makers such
as the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.
GeoStor
serves as the statewide GIS data clearinghouse as
a part of the Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure.
It is open to the public and can be accessed through
the internet. Users can download the satellite data
to their computer and display it with their own GIS
software.
This
type of detailed information and advanced delivery could
be beneficial to Emergency Managers, the Department
of Emergency Management, the Governor's Office, FEMA
and many more by providing current satellite data that
can assist identifying the impact of the flooding along
the White River as well as many other geographic concerns.
Additional Information
Landsat 7 Imagery Acquired March 22, 2002
with the use of
Real-time
Acquisition and Processing of Imagery Data (RAPID)
The need for GIS
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) statistics 20,000 communities nationwide lack
flood hazard maps or have grossly outdated maps, many
of these reside in small metropolitan and rural areas.
In addition the US Geological Survey estimates the annual
cost of flood damage exceeds $2 billion and over 100
people die each year in floods. The need to ensure that
accurate and reliable flood maps exist is undeniable.
A
considerable portion of the nation's population resides
in or near floodplains. Indeed waterways have historically
been areas of greater population concentration because
they are conducive to agriculture, commerce and transportation,
and they provide ready and accessible water sources.
However they are also subject to potentially destructive
and costly floods. Reliable flood maps are invaluable
tools in helping local communities develop floodplain
management strategies aimed at limiting the devastation
caused by floods to area businesses and residents.
Accurate maps also help build disaster
resistant communities. Unfortunately most small and
rural communities lack financial, human and technical
resources to draft and maintain accurate maps and incorporate
them into comprehensive development strategies.
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