Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team

Active
By Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center March 1, 2017

Flood Science

Read the fact sheet for Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team

Goals & Objectives

USGS FloodView: Flood Event Viewer

The USGS Flood Event Viewer provides map-based access to storm-surge and other event-based data collected by the USGS Short-Term Network

USGS FloodView

USGS Flood Inundation Mapping

The FIM Program helps communities protect lives and property by providing tools and information to help them understand local flood risksv

FIM Program

The USGS Northeast Region has been an active and competent force in flood-science through (1) maintenance of our streamgaging network to provide timely and accurate data to the National Weather Service, other federal (USACE and FEMA) and state agencies (Emergency Management Agencies), and the public in times of flood emergencies; (2) documentation of major floods; (3) involvement in the USGS Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) program; (4) research on stream and river flood hydrology and modeling; and (5) development of statistical hydrologic documentation tools. The Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team will play a leadership role in flood sciences by coordinating, enhancing, and promoting flood-science programs, both riverine and coastal, within the Northeast Region, and working with others from other regions and from other agencies or universities to enhance and develop flood science programs and capabilities in support of USGS national and regional goals.

The Northeast Region hosts Urban Landscapes, Coastal Science, and Flood Science Capability Teams.

GOALS

The Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team will advance the Northeast Region as a leader in flood-science and decision support programs. The Team will be a resource to assist the Region and its Science Centers to develop and maintain flood-science programs. Specific areas for technical collaboration will include:

Flood level on house
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
  • Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) and flood vulnerability modeling
  • Major flood response, including rapid deployment and post-flood documentation activities
  • Fluvial erosion hazards (FEH)
  • Effects of floods on ecosystems
  • Statistical hydrology and flood prediction in a future of non-stationarity
  • Indirect measurements of discharge
  • Data analyses (peak flows and flood frequencies)
  • Streamgage-network evaluation

MAJOR OBJECTIVES

Major objectives for the Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team will include:

flooded USGS gage house
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
  • Develop technical support material, such as training seminars for Northeast Region technical staff
  • Keep Region technical staff aware of flood-science related developments, particularly with FIM, through Webinars and face-to-face meetings
  • Maintain forums for Region WSCs to share technical problems and ideas
  • Build and maintain flood-science program development material for Northeast Region WSCs and assist the Northeast Region Science Advisors with regional program development through technical support 
  • Work with Northeast Region scientists to develop a technical vision for new flood-science work, such as (1) small watershed flood warning and forecast support for the National Weather Service, (2) Region flood “rapid response teams,” and (3) new tools for fluvial erosion hazards; and to integrate flood-science programs into other agency programs, such as FEMA’s RiskMap
  • Interface with USGS Flood Science Teams in the other Regions to draw upon their expertise and foster information exchange
  • Support the Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS)
  • Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) Program and assist the Office of Surface Water by providing technical reviews and testing of new flood-mapping templates, tools, methods, and/or products

FLOOD SCIENCE CAPABILITY TEAM

Information about active and recent events tracked by the USGS National Floods Specialist. Streamflow data is vitally important for our partner agencies to forecast flood magnitude and timing, operate flood control systems, and manage emergency response. 

Flood Watch

USGS Flood Reporting

USGS Flood Innundation Mapping Program

Hurricane and Flood Response Map Viewer

The USGS Flood Event Viewer (FEV) is the public data discovery component of the Short-Term Network (STN) database. Data viewable and downloadable from this page are from the STN database. This application integrates with the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database for display of time-series water data.
By
Hurricane Matthew

Surface Water Watch

WaterWatch displays maps, graphs, and tables describing real-time, recent, and past streamflow conditions for the United States.

Hydrologic Data Mapper (NYWSC)

Hydrologic conditions based on data obtained from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) http://nwis.usgs.gov
By
New York Water Science Center

Flood Watch

Maps of flood and high flow conditions within the U.S.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Hurricane Matthew

Below are publications associated with this project.

Nearshore sediment thickness, Fire Island, New York

Investigations of coastal change at Fire Island, New York (N.Y.), sought to characterize sediment budgets and determine geologic framework controls on coastal processes. Nearshore sediment thickness is critical for assessing coastal system sediment availability, but it is largely unquantified due to the difficulty of conducting geological or geophysical surveys across the nearshore. This...
Authors
Stanley D. Locker, Jennifer L. Miselis, Noreen A. Buster, Cheryl J. Hapke, Heidi M. Wadman, Jesse E. McNinch, Arnell S. Forde, Chelsea A. Stalk
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy

Inner-shelf ocean dynamics and seafloor morphologic changes during Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy was one of the most destructive hurricanes in US history, making landfall on the New Jersey coast on Oct 30, 2012. Storm impacts included several barrier island breaches, massive coastal erosion, and flooding. While changes to the subaerial landscape are relatively easily observed, storm-induced changes to the adjacent shoreface and inner continental shelf are more...
Authors
John C. Warner, William C. Schwab, Jeffrey H. List, Ilgar Safak, Maria Liste, Wayne E. Baldwin
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Advanced Research Computing (ARC), Hurricane Sandy

Numerical modeling of the effects of Hurricane Sandy and potential future hurricanes on spatial patterns of salt marsh morphology in Jamaica Bay, New York City

The salt marshes of Jamaica Bay, managed by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the Gateway National Recreation Area of the National Park Service, serve as a recreational outlet for New York City residents, mitigate flooding, and provide habitat for critical wildlife species. Hurricanes and extra-tropical storms have been recognized as one of the critical drivers of...
Authors
Hongqing Wang, Q. Chen, Kelin Hu, Gregg A. Snedden, Ellen K. Hartig, Brady R. Couvillion, Cody L. Johnson, Philip M. Orton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Hurricane Sandy, Hurricanes

Bathymetry data collected in October 2014 from Fire Island, New York—The wilderness breach, shoreface, and bay

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, conducted a bathymetric survey of Fire Island, New York, from October 5 to 10, 2014. The U.S. Geological Survey is involved in a post-Hurricane Sandy effort to map and monitor the morphologic evolution of the wilderness breach, which formed in October 2012 during...
Authors
Timothy R. Nelson, Jennifer L. Miselis, Cheryl J. Hapke, Owen T. Brenner, Rachel E. Henderson, Billy J. Reynolds, Kathleen E. Wilson
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy

Coastal bathymetry data collected in June 2014 from Fire Island, New York—The wilderness breach and shoreface

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, collected bathymetric data along the upper shoreface and within the wilderness breach at Fire Island, New York, in June 2014. The U.S. Geological Survey is involved in a post-Hurricane Sandy effort to map and monitor the morphologic evolution of the shoreface along Fire...
Authors
Timothy R. Nelson, Jennifer L. Miselis, Cheryl J. Hapke, Kathleen E. Wilson, Rachel E. Henderson, Owen T. Brenner, Billy J. Reynolds, Mark E. Hansen
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy

Flood-inundation maps for Lake Champlain in Vermont and in northern Clinton County, New York

Digital flood-inundation maps for an approximately100-mile length of Lake Champlain in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties in Vermont and northern Clinton County in New York were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the International Joint Commission (IJC). The flood-inundationmaps, which can be accessed through the International Joint...
Authors
Robert H. Flynn, Laura Hayes
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Network global navigation satellite system surveys to harmonize American and Canadian datum for the Lake Champlain Basin

Historically high flood levels were observed during flooding in Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River from late April through May 2011. Flooding was caused by record spring precipitation and snowmelt from the third highest cumulative snowfall year on record, which included a warm, saturated late spring snowpack. Flood stage was exceeded for a total of 67 days from April 13 to June 19...
Authors
Robert H. Flynn, Paul H. Rydlund, Daniel J. Martin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Development of flood-inundation maps for the West Branch Susquehanna River near the Borough of Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Streamflow data, water-surface-elevation profiles derived from a Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System hydraulic model, and geographical information system digital elevation models were used to develop a set of 18 flood-inundation maps for an approximately 5-mile reach of the West Branch Susquehanna River near the Borough of Jersey Shore, Pa. The inundation maps were...
Authors
Mark A. Roland, Scott A. Hoffman
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

USGS EarthWord of the Week

USGS EarthWord of the Week

The unsaturated zone is the area below the surface of the ground but above the groundwater table. In other words, it’s the area that is comparatively...

Read Article

Below are partners associated with this project.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

NOAA National Weather Service (NWS)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The USGS Northeast Region has been an active and competent force in flood-science through (1) maintenance of our streamgaging network to provide timely and accurate data to the National Weather Service, other federal (USACE and FEMA) and state agencies (Emergency Management Agencies), and the public in times of flood emergencies; (2) documentation of major floods; (3) involvement in the USGS Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) program; (4) research on stream and river flood hydrology and modeling; and (5) development of statistical hydrologic documentation tools. The Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team will play a leadership role in flood sciences by coordinating, enhancing, and promoting flood-science programs, both riverine and coastal, within the Northeast Region, and working with others from other regions and from other agencies or universities to enhance and develop flood science programs and capabilities in support of USGS national and regional goals.

The Northeast Region hosts Urban Landscapes, Coastal Science, and Flood Science Capability Teams.

GOALS

The Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team will advance the Northeast Region as a leader in flood-science and decision support programs. The Team will be a resource to assist the Region and its Science Centers to develop and maintain flood-science programs. Specific areas for technical collaboration will include:

Flood level on house
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
  • Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) and flood vulnerability modeling
  • Major flood response, including rapid deployment and post-flood documentation activities
  • Fluvial erosion hazards (FEH)
  • Effects of floods on ecosystems
  • Statistical hydrology and flood prediction in a future of non-stationarity
  • Indirect measurements of discharge
  • Data analyses (peak flows and flood frequencies)
  • Streamgage-network evaluation

MAJOR OBJECTIVES

Major objectives for the Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team will include:

flooded USGS gage house
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
  • Develop technical support material, such as training seminars for Northeast Region technical staff
  • Keep Region technical staff aware of flood-science related developments, particularly with FIM, through Webinars and face-to-face meetings
  • Maintain forums for Region WSCs to share technical problems and ideas
  • Build and maintain flood-science program development material for Northeast Region WSCs and assist the Northeast Region Science Advisors with regional program development through technical support 
  • Work with Northeast Region scientists to develop a technical vision for new flood-science work, such as (1) small watershed flood warning and forecast support for the National Weather Service, (2) Region flood “rapid response teams,” and (3) new tools for fluvial erosion hazards; and to integrate flood-science programs into other agency programs, such as FEMA’s RiskMap
  • Interface with USGS Flood Science Teams in the other Regions to draw upon their expertise and foster information exchange
  • Support the Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS)
  • Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) Program and assist the Office of Surface Water by providing technical reviews and testing of new flood-mapping templates, tools, methods, and/or products

FLOOD SCIENCE CAPABILITY TEAM

Information about active and recent events tracked by the USGS National Floods Specialist. Streamflow data is vitally important for our partner agencies to forecast flood magnitude and timing, operate flood control systems, and manage emergency response. 

Flood Watch

USGS Flood Reporting

USGS Flood Innundation Mapping Program

Hurricane and Flood Response Map Viewer

The USGS Flood Event Viewer (FEV) is the public data discovery component of the Short-Term Network (STN) database. Data viewable and downloadable from this page are from the STN database. This application integrates with the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database for display of time-series water data.
By
Hurricane Matthew

Surface Water Watch

WaterWatch displays maps, graphs, and tables describing real-time, recent, and past streamflow conditions for the United States.

Hydrologic Data Mapper (NYWSC)

Hydrologic conditions based on data obtained from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) http://nwis.usgs.gov
By
New York Water Science Center

Flood Watch

Maps of flood and high flow conditions within the U.S.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Hurricane Matthew

Below are publications associated with this project.

Nearshore sediment thickness, Fire Island, New York

Investigations of coastal change at Fire Island, New York (N.Y.), sought to characterize sediment budgets and determine geologic framework controls on coastal processes. Nearshore sediment thickness is critical for assessing coastal system sediment availability, but it is largely unquantified due to the difficulty of conducting geological or geophysical surveys across the nearshore. This...
Authors
Stanley D. Locker, Jennifer L. Miselis, Noreen A. Buster, Cheryl J. Hapke, Heidi M. Wadman, Jesse E. McNinch, Arnell S. Forde, Chelsea A. Stalk
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy

Inner-shelf ocean dynamics and seafloor morphologic changes during Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy was one of the most destructive hurricanes in US history, making landfall on the New Jersey coast on Oct 30, 2012. Storm impacts included several barrier island breaches, massive coastal erosion, and flooding. While changes to the subaerial landscape are relatively easily observed, storm-induced changes to the adjacent shoreface and inner continental shelf are more...
Authors
John C. Warner, William C. Schwab, Jeffrey H. List, Ilgar Safak, Maria Liste, Wayne E. Baldwin
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Advanced Research Computing (ARC), Hurricane Sandy

Numerical modeling of the effects of Hurricane Sandy and potential future hurricanes on spatial patterns of salt marsh morphology in Jamaica Bay, New York City

The salt marshes of Jamaica Bay, managed by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the Gateway National Recreation Area of the National Park Service, serve as a recreational outlet for New York City residents, mitigate flooding, and provide habitat for critical wildlife species. Hurricanes and extra-tropical storms have been recognized as one of the critical drivers of...
Authors
Hongqing Wang, Q. Chen, Kelin Hu, Gregg A. Snedden, Ellen K. Hartig, Brady R. Couvillion, Cody L. Johnson, Philip M. Orton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Hurricane Sandy, Hurricanes

Bathymetry data collected in October 2014 from Fire Island, New York—The wilderness breach, shoreface, and bay

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, conducted a bathymetric survey of Fire Island, New York, from October 5 to 10, 2014. The U.S. Geological Survey is involved in a post-Hurricane Sandy effort to map and monitor the morphologic evolution of the wilderness breach, which formed in October 2012 during...
Authors
Timothy R. Nelson, Jennifer L. Miselis, Cheryl J. Hapke, Owen T. Brenner, Rachel E. Henderson, Billy J. Reynolds, Kathleen E. Wilson
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy

Coastal bathymetry data collected in June 2014 from Fire Island, New York—The wilderness breach and shoreface

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, collected bathymetric data along the upper shoreface and within the wilderness breach at Fire Island, New York, in June 2014. The U.S. Geological Survey is involved in a post-Hurricane Sandy effort to map and monitor the morphologic evolution of the shoreface along Fire...
Authors
Timothy R. Nelson, Jennifer L. Miselis, Cheryl J. Hapke, Kathleen E. Wilson, Rachel E. Henderson, Owen T. Brenner, Billy J. Reynolds, Mark E. Hansen
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy

Flood-inundation maps for Lake Champlain in Vermont and in northern Clinton County, New York

Digital flood-inundation maps for an approximately100-mile length of Lake Champlain in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties in Vermont and northern Clinton County in New York were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the International Joint Commission (IJC). The flood-inundationmaps, which can be accessed through the International Joint...
Authors
Robert H. Flynn, Laura Hayes
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Network global navigation satellite system surveys to harmonize American and Canadian datum for the Lake Champlain Basin

Historically high flood levels were observed during flooding in Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River from late April through May 2011. Flooding was caused by record spring precipitation and snowmelt from the third highest cumulative snowfall year on record, which included a warm, saturated late spring snowpack. Flood stage was exceeded for a total of 67 days from April 13 to June 19...
Authors
Robert H. Flynn, Paul H. Rydlund, Daniel J. Martin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Development of flood-inundation maps for the West Branch Susquehanna River near the Borough of Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Streamflow data, water-surface-elevation profiles derived from a Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System hydraulic model, and geographical information system digital elevation models were used to develop a set of 18 flood-inundation maps for an approximately 5-mile reach of the West Branch Susquehanna River near the Borough of Jersey Shore, Pa. The inundation maps were...
Authors
Mark A. Roland, Scott A. Hoffman
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

USGS EarthWord of the Week

USGS EarthWord of the Week

The unsaturated zone is the area below the surface of the ground but above the groundwater table. In other words, it’s the area that is comparatively...

Read Article

Below are partners associated with this project.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

NOAA National Weather Service (NWS)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Was this page helpful?