“In Iowa, you can’t control the weather, but you can be prepared for it,” said Representative Zach Nunn.
He was speaking at an event held on August 7 at a Polk County farm where a new hydrologic weather station had just been installed. It was the first of 18 new Iowa Flood Center (IFC) hydrostations destined for the third congressional district, which Nunn represents.
Nunn led an effort to secure $500,000 in federal funding to support expansion of the IFC’s hydrostation network and development of an Iowa drought information system. The hydrostations — one in each county throughout the district — will provide flood and drought monitoring data to help Iowans be better informed and better prepared for whatever the weather brings.
IFC Director Larry Weber had every expectation that the event would be a celebration of the expanded hydrostation network and better access to weather information for Iowans.
But he wasn’t expecting to receive a medal.
As the event came to a close, Nunn turned to Weber and presented him with a congressional challenge coin, which recognizes exceptional service and notable achievements. As Nunn shook Weber’s hand, he said, “I present this to you for your hard work on the front lines.”
“I was a little surprised,” Weber says, and very pleased. He thanked Nunn and replied, “I accept this on behalf of the entire Iowa Flood Center.”
At the next regular IFC meeting, Weber shared the honor with the team whose work helped make it possible: Breanna Shea, Kate Giannini, Corin Fuchtman, Jim Niemeier, Caden Branum, and Brady Vogel. Each person accepted the coin and shook hands, passing it on to the next in line.
Weber then turned to the entire IFC team and said, “All of you are involved in one way or another, and we want to recognize everybody for their efforts.”
Throughout history, Weber noted, academia has primarily focused on faculty and students. “But here at the Iowa Flood Center and IIHR, staff are equally as important. As faculty, we couldn’t do our work without you all.”
About the size of a silver dollar, the coin features the official Iowa seal, which includes a soldier holding a flag and banners flying overhead bearing the Iowa motto:
“Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.”
The IFC at the University of Iowa will install and maintain the new hydrostations, which gather data on rainfall, wind speed and direction, soil moisture and temperature, and groundwater levels. The data are made publicly available on the Iowa Flood Information System (IFIS), providing essential information for farmers, emergency responders, and decision-makers. The addition of these sensors puts the IFC closer to its goal of one hydrostation in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.