GIS data for the Seaside, Oregon, Tsunami Pilot Study to modernize FEMA flood hazard maps

A Tsunami Pilot Study was conducted for the area surrounding the coastal town of Seaside, Oregon, as part of the Federal Emergency Management's (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map Modernization Program (Tsunami Pilot Study Working Group, 2006). The Cascadia subduction zone extends from Cape Mendocino, California, to Vancouver Island, Canada. The Seaside area was chosen because it is typical of many coastal communities subject to tsunamis generated by far- and near-field (Cascadia) earthquakes.

Two goals of the pilot study were to develop probabilistic 100-year and 500-year tsunami inundation maps using Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Analysis (PTHA) and to provide
recommendations for improving tsunami hazard assessment guidelines for FEMA and
state and local agencies. The study was an interagency effort by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, and FEMA, in collaboration with
the University of Southern California, Middle East Technical University, Portland State
University, Horning Geoscience, Northwest Hydraulics Consultants, and the Oregon
Department of Geological and Mineral Industries. The pilot study model data and results
are published separately as a geographic information systems (GIS) data report (Wong
and others, 2006). The flood maps and GIS data are briefly described here.