What We Know: After years of major flooding across Missouri, state leaders wanted a better way to track what’s happening with the state’s water.
What It Means: The result is the Missouri Hydrology Information Center, or MoHIC, a new tool that lets people monitor both flood and drought conditions from their computer or smartphone.
The project grew out of discussions among state and federal agencies following several historic floods with the help of $10.4 million in federal funding, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
For people worried about drought, the app shows current conditions across the state and lets users zoom in to see soil moisture levels in specific areas.
On the flood side, users can track stream levels in real time and see forecasts for the next several days. The system even predicts flooding on streams that don’t have gauges installed.
What They’re Saying: Missouri DNR Ground Water Section Chief Scott Kaden says that can be especially helpful for farmers and rural landowners.
“If you just have your local stream running through your farm, this will be able to tell you if the water’s going to come up or not,” Kaden said.
The information can help farmers protect livestock, emergency managers plan for road closures, and residents know when floodwaters may threaten their homes.
One of the app’s most useful features may be its alerts. Users can sign up to receive notifications when a nearby creek or stream is expected to reach flood stage.
The MoHIC app is available for download through both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
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