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Hurricane Isaac

Completed
By Water Resources Mission Area February 26, 2019

Flooded homes

Possibilities of coastal erosion

Cemetery damage

Hurricane Isaac was a Category 1 storm that made landfall in Louisana on August 28, 2012, causing tornadoes and widespread flooding in five states.

USGS scientists, engineers, and technicians worked along the Gulf coast in response to Hurricane Isaac, deploying and maintaining 188 storm tide sensors and real-time streamgages in anticipation of Isaac's arrival. The USGS, in concert with our partners, is providing scientific assessments of the challenges wrought by Isaac.

August 2012 Hurricane Isaac Flood Event Viewer
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The USGS Flood Event Viewer provides access to USGS monitoring activities during Hurricane Isaac.

The USGS Flood Event Viewer helps USGS and its partners to track of the storm and its impact on surface water levels. A storm track field is included from NOAA's National Hurricane Center, and real-time USGS streamgage data and Rapid Deployment Gage data are linked through this map-based product.

Storm Surge Sensors are also shown that record fine-resolution storm tide and wave level data. This data became available on the viewer as soon as it was safe to retrieve the sensors and upload the data. In addition, imagery was provided from the National Geodetic Survey.

Following the event, high-water mark (HWM) data was added to the map by field crews soon after collection, including survey data and photos.

 

USGS Activities in the News:

Below are other science projects associated with Hurricane Isaac and USGS flood activities.

link
Satellite view of Hurricane Sandy

Historical Flooding

The USGS provides practical, unbiased information about the Nation's rivers and streams that is crucial in mitigating hazards associated with floods. This site provides information about the USGS activities, data, and services provided during regional high-flow events, such as hurricanes or multi-state flooding events. The USGS response to these events is typically managed by the National Flood...
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Historical Flooding

The USGS provides practical, unbiased information about the Nation's rivers and streams that is crucial in mitigating hazards associated with floods. This site provides information about the USGS activities, data, and services provided during regional high-flow events, such as hurricanes or multi-state flooding events. The USGS response to these events is typically managed by the National Flood...
Learn More
link
Probabilities of coastal erosion from Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana 

Hurricane Isaac - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change

Hurricane Isaac coastal change forecast, pre- and post-storm photos, and lidar elevation maps document coastal change.
By
St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Hurricane Isaac - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change

Hurricane Isaac coastal change forecast, pre- and post-storm photos, and lidar elevation maps document coastal change.
Learn More
link
channel flowing through sandy beach

Hurricane Sandy

Gale- to storm-force winds associated with the passage of Sandy across central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania that lasted 12 to 18 hours caused major to record coastal flooding in southeastern New York on October 29, 2012.
By
New York Water Science Center, Hurricane Sandy
link

Hurricane Sandy

Gale- to storm-force winds associated with the passage of Sandy across central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania that lasted 12 to 18 hours caused major to record coastal flooding in southeastern New York on October 29, 2012.
Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with Hurricane Isaac and USGS flood activities.

USGS SWaTH Network

SWaTH is a system of flood-hardened, real-time telemetered tide gages, rapid deployment gages, and storm tide sensors deployed in integrated network configurations along the Northeastern Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Maine.

By
New Jersey Water Science Center

Below are publications associated with Hurricane Isaac and USGS flood activities.

Monitoring storm tide and flooding from Hurricane Isaac along the Gulf Coast of the United States, August 2012

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) deployed a temporary monitoring network of water-level and barometric pressure sensors at 127 locations along the gulf coast from Alabama to Louisiana to record the timing, areal extent, and magnitude of hurricane storm tide and coastal flooding generated by Hurricane Isaac. This deployment was undertaken as part of a coordinated federal emergency response as outl
Authors
Brian E. McCallum, Benton D. McGee, Dustin R. Kimbrow, Michael S. Runner, Jaime A. Painter, Eric R. Frantz, Anthony J. Gotvald
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Below are partners associated with Hurricane Isaac and USGS flood activities.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA National Weather Service (NWS)

Ready.gov

Hurricane Isaac was a Category 1 storm that made landfall in Louisana on August 28, 2012, causing tornadoes and widespread flooding in five states.

USGS scientists, engineers, and technicians worked along the Gulf coast in response to Hurricane Isaac, deploying and maintaining 188 storm tide sensors and real-time streamgages in anticipation of Isaac's arrival. The USGS, in concert with our partners, is providing scientific assessments of the challenges wrought by Isaac.

August 2012 Hurricane Isaac Flood Event Viewer
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The USGS Flood Event Viewer provides access to USGS monitoring activities during Hurricane Isaac.

The USGS Flood Event Viewer helps USGS and its partners to track of the storm and its impact on surface water levels. A storm track field is included from NOAA's National Hurricane Center, and real-time USGS streamgage data and Rapid Deployment Gage data are linked through this map-based product.

Storm Surge Sensors are also shown that record fine-resolution storm tide and wave level data. This data became available on the viewer as soon as it was safe to retrieve the sensors and upload the data. In addition, imagery was provided from the National Geodetic Survey.

Following the event, high-water mark (HWM) data was added to the map by field crews soon after collection, including survey data and photos.

 

USGS Activities in the News:

Below are other science projects associated with Hurricane Isaac and USGS flood activities.

link
Satellite view of Hurricane Sandy

Historical Flooding

The USGS provides practical, unbiased information about the Nation's rivers and streams that is crucial in mitigating hazards associated with floods. This site provides information about the USGS activities, data, and services provided during regional high-flow events, such as hurricanes or multi-state flooding events. The USGS response to these events is typically managed by the National Flood...
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Historical Flooding

The USGS provides practical, unbiased information about the Nation's rivers and streams that is crucial in mitigating hazards associated with floods. This site provides information about the USGS activities, data, and services provided during regional high-flow events, such as hurricanes or multi-state flooding events. The USGS response to these events is typically managed by the National Flood...
Learn More
link
Probabilities of coastal erosion from Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana 

Hurricane Isaac - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change

Hurricane Isaac coastal change forecast, pre- and post-storm photos, and lidar elevation maps document coastal change.
By
St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Hurricane Isaac - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change

Hurricane Isaac coastal change forecast, pre- and post-storm photos, and lidar elevation maps document coastal change.
Learn More
link
channel flowing through sandy beach

Hurricane Sandy

Gale- to storm-force winds associated with the passage of Sandy across central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania that lasted 12 to 18 hours caused major to record coastal flooding in southeastern New York on October 29, 2012.
By
New York Water Science Center, Hurricane Sandy
link

Hurricane Sandy

Gale- to storm-force winds associated with the passage of Sandy across central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania that lasted 12 to 18 hours caused major to record coastal flooding in southeastern New York on October 29, 2012.
Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with Hurricane Isaac and USGS flood activities.

USGS SWaTH Network

SWaTH is a system of flood-hardened, real-time telemetered tide gages, rapid deployment gages, and storm tide sensors deployed in integrated network configurations along the Northeastern Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Maine.

By
New Jersey Water Science Center

Below are publications associated with Hurricane Isaac and USGS flood activities.

Monitoring storm tide and flooding from Hurricane Isaac along the Gulf Coast of the United States, August 2012

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) deployed a temporary monitoring network of water-level and barometric pressure sensors at 127 locations along the gulf coast from Alabama to Louisiana to record the timing, areal extent, and magnitude of hurricane storm tide and coastal flooding generated by Hurricane Isaac. This deployment was undertaken as part of a coordinated federal emergency response as outl
Authors
Brian E. McCallum, Benton D. McGee, Dustin R. Kimbrow, Michael S. Runner, Jaime A. Painter, Eric R. Frantz, Anthony J. Gotvald
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Below are partners associated with Hurricane Isaac and USGS flood activities.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA National Weather Service (NWS)

Ready.gov

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