Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-04
Weather Bureau

sNOup6IGu W1t1I tAAS SOAPo Va GSA-
gineers, the Weather Bureau has
always been on q starvation diet.
Everybody talks about the weather,
but apparently not to their Con-
gresSmen.
At any rate. the Weather Bureau
has had to rock along with about
$24 million q year for the past
decade-until the current fiscal
year. Congress got scared by three
northern hurricanes last year and
gave the bureau an extra SO mil
lion, about half of 1t for hurricane.
tornado and severe storm"
warning.
The bureau is ready with an
expanded flood-warning program.
however, If Congress sweetens the
kitty next year. The projected
program viii be good for hurricanes
as well as ordinary floods.
$50 Million Sowing
About 81 million is spent directly
on flood warning now. 1t saves the
country about $50 million in food
damage in an average year, the
Weather Bureau estimates. That's
about 10 per cent of the average
annual toll.
But If it had been running
IS million warning program, say.
the bureau believes it could have
saved 800 million in the Diane
fiood-and perhaps 100 lives.
What's the difference between
million dollar and five-million dol
lar food warning system?
First. the more expensive pro-
gram would cover the tributaries
and small streams. not just the
major rivers.
Second, better techniques and
better equipment could be used.
The Weather Bureau has had
fiood-warning service for about
seven years. The service has been
concentrated in valleys Of the
major rivers, because forecasting is
technically more feasible there and
because most damage and deaths
are liable to occur on the large
rivers.
Forecasting on the major rivers
is almost an exact science. A
hydrologist can study rainfall fig-
ures and predict almost to the inch
how high q flood will crest and
almost to the hour when that crest
will pass given point. Warnings
can be given days in advance.
In the tributaries. however, the
flood follows the rain more quickly.
A skilled man working with cleo
tronic computers will be able to
forecast q flood only q few hours
before the water rises, and he will
be less accurate.
But In the streams and creeks.
a flood accompanies the rain. AS
soon Is excessive amounts Of water
begin to fall, the streams start to
rise. There is no warning time.
The forecaster. therefore. must
predict the flood before the rains
start. That's mighty hard to do.
Expanding Program
As Congress has given 1t more
money, the Weather Bureau has
tried to give more attention to
smaller rivers. Special flood-warn-
ing districts have been established.
stated by flood specialists.
One was operating in Harrisburg,
Pa, last month, and 1t helped
spread the word in parts Of Penn
sylvania, New York and New Jer-
sey. Another flood-warning center
Is due to open In Hartford, Conn,
in Q few days. It could have been
invaluable during the Diane storm.
When-and if-the Weather Bu-
reau begins to operate In the
streams and creeks. the problem
will be q difficult one. For even
If weathermen were stationed in
every creek valley. they would have
no time to apply their technical
skill before the flood hit.
The job will have to be done by
local citizens under Weather Blu
reau direction. This is already be-
ing tried In some communities.
One part-time person will have
to keep an eye on rain and flood
gauges. If heavy rain comes and
the water begins to rise q little. he
will call key persons in nearby
vulnerable towns. These persons
will apply o simple fromula fur
nished by the Weather Bureau and
will decide II there is q possibility
of o flood. II 80 they will alert
their communities - telling each
person they call to pass the word
on.
It's not easy TO keep persons like
these on the alert, however. when
foods threaten only once in several
years.
EIeetronic Aids
Mechanical and electronic aids
can do q good deal to extend food
warning services
Radar has already proved its
value In locating heavy rain Gen.
tors - many % 400 miles away
from the station. Automatic
weather stations-which record
rain, wind. barometric pressure. ETC..
then radio the information TO
manned stations-also can help.
Automatic warning devices. which
ring . bell in the local police sta
ton, for instance. when barometric
pressure falls suddenly, can be
used.
Electronic computers certainly
are necessary. weather experts say.
New problems may be raised by
hurricane foods. Current studies.
in cooperation with the Corps Of
Engineers. will help determine
whether established fiood-warning
techniques will have to be aug
uasntad.