NWS Meteorologist Honored for Flood Forecasting

Marcie Katcher
NOAA National Weather Service

July 24, 2009 — At the wee age of 7, back in June of 1972, NOAA meteorologist David Nicosia was awed by the fierce power of inland river floods after witnessing the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes in Pennsylvania.

Fast forward to June 18, Nicosia’s adult passion for flood forecasting, preparedness and training has earned him the prestigious Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence by a Water Management Professional from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

Award-winning NWS meteorologist, David Nicosia (podium), speaks about flood forecasting along the banks of the Susquehanna River at a June 18 press conference in Binghamton, N.Y. From left: New York State Sen. Tom Libous, Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan, Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala and New York Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo. Photo credit: Susan Obleski, Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

The Susquehanna River Basin, which spans New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, is one of the most flood-prone watersheds in the nation. Each year, it experiences damage in excess of $150 million, on average. More than 80 percent of the basin’s 1,400-plus municipalities have areas vulnerable to flooding.

Nicosia, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Binghamton, N.Y., spearheaded flood safety outreach efforts with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to help residents and local businesses prepare for the devastating effects of flooding, which included the NWS flood awareness campaign, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”

“David worked with us days in advance to maximize our ability to respond effectively to major flooding along the Susquehanna over the last several years,” said Susan Obleski, director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. “His briefings to emergency management have become legendary for their meaningful detail and advanced forecast warning.”

“During the record flood of June 2006, I remember working 32 straight hours providing dozens of one-on-one briefings as the Susquehanna rose to record levels,” recalls Nicosia.  “I was lost in the workflow, not even aware of time passing.”

Nicosia grew up in Athens, Pa., on a hill above the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers, where he daydreamed of being a meteorologist. His dream was realized when he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in meteorology from Penn State University. He joined the National Weather Service as a meteorological intern in Muskegon, Mich., in 1991.

Nicosia is well known at all levels of emergency management; he teaches formal training courses in the region and is a highly sought presenter during times of severe weather.

“I’m truly passionate about building relationships with our emergency managers during severe weather,” said Nicosia. “It’s vital to enable first responders to make the quickest, most effective decisions to protect lives and property.”

“Dave was part of history during the record-breaking disastrous flood of June 2006 on the Susquehanna River,” said Mike Sprague, director of the Steuben County (N.Y.) Office of Emergency Services and a past recipient of the Maurice K. Goddard award. “Nobody will ever forget his briefing the day before the flood, when he told dozens of emergency officials that many levees would be overcome, as the Susquehanna River was forecast to rise to record levels.”

Nicosia’s briefing allowed officials time to prepare by evacuating thousands of people and moving property to higher ground. Countless lives were likely saved.  

“I am really very proud of being the seventh recipient to receive this coveted award,” said Nicosia. “It’s a rare privilege to get paid and acknowledged for work you truly love to do.”