A REGIONAL RESPONSE TO CLIMATE INFORMATION NEEDS DURING THE 1993 FLOOD

Effective responses by government agencies, businesses, and private in dustry to climate disasters such as the disastrous Mississippi River f ood of 1993 hinge on the regional availability of diverse up-to-date w eather, climate, and water information. In addition to the obvious nee d for accurate forecasts and warnings of severe weather and floods, ot her types of meteorologically based information can contribute to effe ctive responses. Some examples of information requested during and aft er the 1993 flood include 1) hydroclimatic assessments of the magnitud e of the event, 2) agricultural assessments of the impacts of heavy ra ins and flooding on corn and soybean production, and 3) probabilistic outlooks of the recurrence of flooding based on soil moisture conditio ns. Quick responses to these climate information needs necessitate 1) a real-time climate monitoring system, 2) physical models to assess ef fects and impacts, and 3) scientific expertise to address complex issu es.