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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PUBLIC SERVICES <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />The COMSAT Geoeral water monitoring network contributed to the ability <br /> <br />~ <br />~ <br />~l <br /> <br />of public officials to respond to the large number of inquiries received from the <br /> <br />media, other government agencies, canal and ditch operators, anxious farm and <br /> <br />homeowners and others. In the two offices we visited on the 29th the phones were <br /> <br />constantly lit up by callers wanting to know the most current information." Avail- <br /> <br />ability of specific information on local, as well as, upstream circumstances <br /> <br />allowed many inquiries to be answered immediately. Sound advice could be given <br /> <br />promptly about expected conditions, well before local conditions could have been <br /> <br />measured. <br /> <br />The flood response agencies were able to operate confidently without <br /> <br />constant phone contact with each other. Each of the agencies having a connection <br /> <br />to the COMSAT General System by terminal could directly review the same streamflow <br /> <br />data as it unfolded. Consultation was then limited to verification and interpre- <br /> <br />tation of what was to be done, not what was happening. There were no reported <br /> <br />instances when users had to wait to obtain COMSAT General's provisional data. The <br /> <br />delays often associated with a number of agencies simultaneously waiting to check <br /> <br />a single key station by telemark were avoided. Potential delays or errors of manual <br /> <br />calculations from stage readings to flows were avoided because these were done <br /> <br />automatically from the computer memory. <br /> <br />We believe our system freed the response agencies to do their most <br /> <br />important jobs: to think, judge, act and communicate. The system allowed key <br /> <br />officials to serve the public by being available more of the time to the public. <br /> <br />Some officials were able to monitor the events at home, by taking their portable <br /> <br />terminals with them in case events changed. Necessary coordination was made <br /> <br />easier. Overall the most positive result of this experience was its demonstration <br /> <br />that our information tools work when they have to. In a truly severe flood event, <br /> <br /> <br />the tested capabilities of our system to support decisions, controls and commands <br /> <br />would become absolutely vital. <br /> <br />-5~ <br />