The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) uses observations of flooding in communities to monitor hazard conditions and support research by the USGS and its partners into a variety of hazard processes in Alaska. Local observations of flooding at a flood staffs are used to document flood elevations, improve flood models, and support floodplain management decisions.
Flood Staff Inventory
The following table lists the coordinates and elevations of flood staffs in Alaska. Elevations are listed in feet relative to local mean higher high water (MHHW) if applicable, and in meters relative to orthometric height (NAVD 88 [GEOID12B]).
Click the community name to see a photo of the staff.
| Flood Staff Inventory | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community | Longitude | Latitude | Staff Units | Staff 0 mark in local datum | Staff 0 mark in m ortho | Install Date |
| Kotlik | -163.5408 | 63.0342 | Decimal feet | 2.6 ft MHHW | 2.71 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2017 |
| Alakanuk | -164.6678 | 62.6871 | Decimal feet | 0.4 ft MHHW | 2.63 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2022 |
| Kipnuk | -164.0386 | 59.9355 | feet and inches | 0.0 ft MHHW | 2.36 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2023 |
| Kwigillingok | -163.1459 | 59.8692 | feet and inches | 0.0 ft MHHW | 2.89 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2023 |
| Koyuk | -161.1579 | 64.9306 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.744 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2024 |
| Unalakleet | -160.785 | 63.8813 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.757 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2024 |
| Chignik Bay | -158.405324 | 56.294856 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 2.242 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
| Kotzebue (ATC) | -162.57095 | 66.90339 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.22 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
| Kotzebue (Marsh) | -162.57216 | 66.89755 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.22 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
| Deering (Old Store) | -162.71351 | 66.07393 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.45 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
| Deering (School) | -162.71969 | 66.07458 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.45 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
Download the flood staff inventory as plain text or an Excel file (last updated June 2024):
Be an Observer
If you live near a flood staff, we encourage you to join the Alaska Flood Observation Facebook group.
Timely flood photos shared on this page are used by the National Weather Service to see ongoing storm impacts and improve advice to residents and emergency responders. The USGS, Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, and other partners use flood photos to improve flood models and hazard products.
Contributions will be added to the Alaska Flood Event Database.
Typhoon Merbok Disaster Emergency Recovery Efforts
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) uses observations of flooding in communities to monitor hazard conditions and support research by the USGS and its partners into a variety of hazard processes in Alaska. Local observations of flooding at a flood staffs are used to document flood elevations, improve flood models, and support floodplain management decisions.
Flood Staff Inventory
The following table lists the coordinates and elevations of flood staffs in Alaska. Elevations are listed in feet relative to local mean higher high water (MHHW) if applicable, and in meters relative to orthometric height (NAVD 88 [GEOID12B]).
Click the community name to see a photo of the staff.
| Flood Staff Inventory | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community | Longitude | Latitude | Staff Units | Staff 0 mark in local datum | Staff 0 mark in m ortho | Install Date |
| Kotlik | -163.5408 | 63.0342 | Decimal feet | 2.6 ft MHHW | 2.71 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2017 |
| Alakanuk | -164.6678 | 62.6871 | Decimal feet | 0.4 ft MHHW | 2.63 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2022 |
| Kipnuk | -164.0386 | 59.9355 | feet and inches | 0.0 ft MHHW | 2.36 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2023 |
| Kwigillingok | -163.1459 | 59.8692 | feet and inches | 0.0 ft MHHW | 2.89 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2023 |
| Koyuk | -161.1579 | 64.9306 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.744 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2024 |
| Unalakleet | -160.785 | 63.8813 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.757 m NAVD 88 (GEOID12B) | 2024 |
| Chignik Bay | -158.405324 | 56.294856 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 2.242 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
| Kotzebue (ATC) | -162.57095 | 66.90339 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.22 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
| Kotzebue (Marsh) | -162.57216 | 66.89755 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.22 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
| Deering (Old Store) | -162.71351 | 66.07393 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.45 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
| Deering (School) | -162.71969 | 66.07458 | Decimal feet | 0.0 ft MHHW | 1.45 m NAVD88 | 2024 |
Download the flood staff inventory as plain text or an Excel file (last updated June 2024):
Be an Observer
If you live near a flood staff, we encourage you to join the Alaska Flood Observation Facebook group.
Timely flood photos shared on this page are used by the National Weather Service to see ongoing storm impacts and improve advice to residents and emergency responders. The USGS, Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, and other partners use flood photos to improve flood models and hazard products.
Contributions will be added to the Alaska Flood Event Database.