Christine Albano, one of CSP’s lead scientists, was part of a team that examined extreme winter weather events in the Lake Tahoe region of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The goals of this multidisciplinary, multifaceted study were threefold:
- To assess the vulnerability of communities in this region to severe storms, which are likely to arise as a result of changes in climate
- To identify options for mitigating the impacts of these storms on communities
- To identify needs for scientific data that can help us predict events and better prepare for them
The team developed a novel approach to characterizing extreme winter storm and flood risks. They modeled an “ARkStorm” scenario — a hypothetical but scientifically realistic “megastorm” scenario developed by the USGS — and used it as a platform to engage practitioners from all phases of the emergency management life cycle.
Through facilitated discussions and a tabletop emergency-management exercise, participants identified strategies such as prepositioning resources, diversifying communications systems, and improving coordination among agencies. A number of science needs were also identified. One was for more real-time monitoring data, which could be used to improve the precision of meteorological models and enhance situational awareness. Another would involve addressing the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure.
The study results were recently published in Natural Hazards. Click here to learn more.