(Aug. 16, 2012) - Little Rock, Ark. Senior Service Hydrologist Tabitha Clarke has been selected as the recipient of the 2012 Gregg B. Rishel Award. The annual award recognizes an individual for hydrologic science and/or service contributions which support the fulfillment of the hydrologic services mission of the National Weather Service.

When Clarke became the senior service hydrologist at the Little Rock forecast office, she made it her highest priority to reach out to area partners through numerous visitations, phone calls and email exchanges. As a result of these efforts, she created a strong working relationship and established communications protocols with key partners.

Those efforts proved critical during the protracted April-May 2011 flood event. In the weeks preceding the flooding, she began her preparations by providing critical hydrologic decision support services including multi-media briefings for local emergency managers, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.

Once the flood threat became imminent, Clarke continued to lead daily conference calls to share the latest contingency river forecast information. She also spent countless hours conducting local, regional and national media interviews.

Numerous federal water resource partners expressed their appreciation for her passion and dedication to saving lives; and for providing outstanding decision support services before, during and after this historic, high-impact flood event.

NWS National Hydrologic Program Director Gary Carter notes, "Tabitha Clarke's efforts clearly exemplify the model of 'Building a Weather-Ready Nation'."

This prestigious award is named in honor of Gregg B. Rishel, a respected hydrologist who made numerous important contributions to the hydrologic mission of the National Weather Service; and was well known for his strong work ethic, passion for hydrology, and commitment to improving hydrologic services.

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