Track Potential Flooding from Hurricane Sally
To learn more about USGS’s role in providing science to decision makers before, during and after Hurricane Sally, visit usgs.gov/sally.
Hurricane Sally made landfall as a Category 2 storm early Wednesday near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Heavy rains and flooding are expected in the western Florida Panhandle, Lower Alabama and Southwest Georgia. Anyone interested in tracking water-level data for rivers and streams can access more than 10,000 real-time U.S. Geological Survey streamgages across the nation on the USGS Flood Event Viewer.
“All of the USGS streamgages are operating well,” said Vic Stricklin, Supervisory Hydrologist at the Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center. “As soon as it’s safe, USGS crews will get out into the field to perform measurements manually in the affected areas.”
USGS streamgages provide real-time data on water levels for rivers and streams, with many also tracking streamflow. The National Weather Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local emergency managers use the streamgage data to develop flood forecasts, make flood control decisions, track flooding, identify the best evacuation routes and plan emergency response, ultimately working to save lives and property. The public can track changing water levels at locations of interest by following changes in readings at the nearest USGS streamgage in the Flood Event Viewer.
The USGS viewer also shows the locations of instruments, called storm tide sensors, that were deployed before the storm. Over the weekend, USGS crews installed 12 storm tide sensors along the Gulf coast from Louisiana to Alabama to measure and record Hurricane Sally’s coastal impacts. Typically, these sensors are retrieved within a few days of a storm’s passing. Water-level data are reviewed by the responsible USGS Water Science Center and made publicly available following approval.
Hurricane Preparedness Tools & Resources
For more information please visit these websites:
USGS Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms – Information on coastal change
USGS Flood Information—Those in the storm's projected path can visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov for tips on creating emergency plans and putting together an emergency supply kit.
USGS WaterAlert – Sends email or text messages from the USGS streamgage of your choice
USGS WaterWatch— Provides current USGS water data for the nation
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