US coastal areas constitute less than 20% of the nation's land, but are home to about 50% of the population. About two dozen federal agencies have jurisdiction in these areas. To help consolidate information regarding this critical 95,000-mile-long zone and all the players involved, NOAA has developed a Web site containing both quick facts and detailed information. The site may be a useful starting point for journalists covering a coast.

• State of the Coast. [2]

The information generally addresses longer-term issues, such as environmental degradation, climate, hazards, economics, and demographics, not specific crises such as the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.