The grant will fund the purchase of nine rain gauges that will be installed along the watershed of White River, Killbuck Creek and Boland/Stanley Ditch. Two stream gauges will be installed, one on White River east of the city and one on Boland/Stanley Ditch in Meadowbrook. A computer software package designed to model flooding conditions as well as notify city officials of flooding conditions will also be installed. The information gathered by the flood warning system will be shared with the National Weather Service and other governmental agencies to provide more accurate flood forecasting predictions and warnings.
The city currently maintains agreements with the US Geological Survey (USGS) for two stream gauges on White River and one on Killbuck Creek. Muncie also maintains an agreement with the USGS for a stream gauge. These gauges will be included in the upgrade of the AFWS.
NOAA awarded the grant to improve the local flood warning system in order to help reduce the loss of life, property damage and disruption to commerce resulting from floods. NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather, water and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the Untied States and its territories.
NOAA'S award was a competitive process with other jurisdictions and agencies across the country competing for the grant. Completion of the project is expected by the end of September. Ft. Wayne was a recipient of this same grant in 2005.
Technorati Tags: 
