The federal government now has a National Water Center intended to help address water-related events stemming from droughts, flooding and other causes.

The new 65,000-square foot center, established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and located at the University of Alabama, will house experts to predict water problems and work to mitigate their impact on Americans.

“The new National Water Center will help us create a safer, more secure, weather-ready nation,” Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said in a prepared statement. “Measuring, managing, and planning for water is complex, and the need for a more integrated approach has never been greater. Through this center, we will work with our partners in the federal government, community leaders nationwide, and the University of Alabama to deliver solutions to one of our most pressing environmental challenges.”

The new program will allow visiting scientists to conduct research and share ideas on ways to anticipate water issues, including those stemming from extreme weather events.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

NOAA’s New National Water Center Will Bolster U.S. Ability To Manage Threats To Water Security (Homeland Security News Wire)

National Water Center Opens on University of Alabama Campus in Tuscaloosa (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)