Mitigating and evaluating water quality risks during extreme weather has become critical in North Carolina, where increasingly frequent storms threaten drinking water supplies. In a new Data in Action story, researchers from Northeastern University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte partnered with the state’s Department of Health and Human Services to create an interactive dashboard. The tool came into play during Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Chantal, visualizing flood extent and mapping risks to environmental health services such as drinking water wells and fire stations.
Beyond the data, the team worked directly with communities by producing video tutorials, training groups with limited Geographic Information Systems (GIS) experience, and adding model features based on local needs.
Read "NASA-Funded Tool Tracks Floods and Water Risks in North Carolina" for more details about this advance.