Community Crowdsourcing Application for Water Related Hazards

Working with community-based organizations involved in emergency services, this project will develop a field data collection tool and training material for volunteers to collect high water mark (HWM) points for improved flood observations. The expected outcome is a stand alone mobile application to the National Water Center and the Office of Water Prediction (NWC/OWP) by quickly providing unique flood characteristics to more accurately evaluate the extent of severe flooding. Known limitations of flood forecasting in smaller streams and tributaries is a challenge that is made even more difficult by the inability to observe these small stream systems via satellite and airborne remote sensing. The main objective of this project is to create a workflow for quickly collecting important details about a flood event that is useful for both validating emergency forecasts and defining how future floods may impact a certain community. This information is important for improving flood forecasts as well as supporting public safety and emergency management agencies (EMA) to better respond to water related hazards. By coordinating these efforts with volunteer, community-based organizations, this project will also produce educational outreach material to encourage hydrology and geospatial workforce development as well as educational material for weather ready, disaster resilient communities in the United States. This project is working in direct partnership with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.