Role of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission
SRBC coordinates the efforts of the FF&WS (video clip)
Interagency committee members and principal responsibilities
Sharing information quickly is key (audio clip)
The flood warning system is federally funded

Role of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission

New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the federal government formed the Susquehanna River Basin Commission in 1971 to protect and manage the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin.

The commission coordinates an interagency committee that maintains and operates the Flood Forecast and Warning System.

SRBC coordinates the efforts of the FF&WS
Click here to view VIDEO CLIP. (22 sec. RealVideo)

"The Susquehanna River Basin Commission plays an important role in coordinating the efforts of the various federal, state, county, local and private interests to ensure that we continue to reduce damages from flooding to the greatest extent possible. As flood-prone as the basin is, we're fortunate to have this model flood forecast warning system in place." -Paul Swartz, Executive Director, Susquehanna River Basin Commission

Interagency committee members and principal responsibilities

-Susquehanna River Basin Commission (coordinating agency)
-National Weather Service
-U.S. Geological Survey
-U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
-New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
-New York State Emergency Management Office
-Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
-Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
-Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
-Maryland Department of the Environment
-Maryland Emergency Management Agency

One of the principal jobs of the Interagency Committee is to work with local citizens, communities, business interests, and various government agencies to support efforts to improve the timeliness and accuracy of flood forecasting and management. The committee is working hard to make sure the latest technology is employed.

Sharing information quickly is key
Click here to play AUDIO CLIP. (35 sec. RealAudio)

"Flash-flooding is becoming a particularly interesting problem. Because it happens so rapidly, we found, we have Emergency Operation Center that we staff with volunteers for this flood group. And their role, basically, is to pull in all information possible, and share it to everyone of the users. And of the users, Emergency Management in both counties, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Weather Service, New York State DEC and several towns and villages. We just make sure everybody's aware of what's going on. And that's in a flashflood situation, just having that knowledge is one of the keys to the puzzle." -Mike Sprague, Director, Steuben County Emergency Services

The flood warning system is federally funded

Funding for the flood forecast and warning system is provided by the federal government through an annual appropriations. The Susquehanna River Basin Commission works to ensure that adequate funds are secured each fiscal year.

Those funds are used by the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to maintain and operate the system.

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