New York to build most sophisticated early warning weather system in U.S.
Glenn Coin
Albany, N.Y. -- New York hopes to build the most sophisticated web of early warning weather stations in the United States to better predict everything from flash floods to ice storms.
The $23.6 million system could save lives by letting planners and residents know when heavy rains, flash floods, tornadoes and other severe weather is headed their way, state officials say.
"Flooding is one of biggest weather hazards and causes of loss of life," said Everette Joseph, director of the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center at SUNY Albany. "We think the (weather system) will give us early warning forecasts about flooding so emergency managers can evacuate citizens and allow them to take protective cover sooner."
New York has been slammed with hurricanes, ice storms, blizzards and floods in the past decade. Since 2006, New York communities have sustained more than $36 billion in damages from severe weather, according to data the state has submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency asking to help fund the weather detection system. (See table below for details.)
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