Southeast Missouri Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson is going to formally announce a series of agreements between the University of Missouri-Rolla and the US Geological Survey, designed to better prepare areas for natural disasters. The research will look to prevent some of the more devastating aspects of earthquakes, floods and hurricanes and help areas recover quicker from them. Emerson also wants answers to the federal government’s decision to consolidate the USGS mapping center in Denver, not Rolla. She has asked the Interior Department’s Inspector General to investigate the criteria used to choose Denver, which she predicts won’t stand up. The federal government has decided to consolidate its mapping operations. The decision to consolidate in Denver will affect 185 employees in Rolla.