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Maps and Imagery for Hurricane Response

USGS geospatial data, tools, maps, imagery, and elevation data can aid local, state, and federal agencies in making decisions that can protect lives and property

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Pop Quiz on Hurricanes!

USGS Recognizes Hurricane Preparedness Week

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Coastal Change Happens

USGS Has Data and Tools to Help Coastal Communities Prepare

Learn about CCH

Research Investments Support Hurricane Readiness

Equipment upgrades made with supplemental funding pays off

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Historical Storm Response By Name and Year

USGS monitors and responds to hurricanes in consultation with other agencies

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Hurricanes

When hurricanes threaten our coasts, the USGS provides comprehensive science and information that decision makers, emergency responders, resource managers, and communities can use to help them prepare for, cope with, and recover from a storm. Information gained from each storm continually advances our science capabilities to improve preparedness, reduce risk, and enhance our resilience.

The Scope of Our Science

Photograph of flooding in Texas after Hurricane Harvey

USGS brings together an integrated array of expertise to forecast and understand hurricane impacts so we can prepare, respond, and recover from them.

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Storm Response

A USGS employee standing in knee deep water attaches a metal cylinder containing a storm tide sensor to a pier.

See the USGS response to current and previous storms, listed by year and storm name.

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Data and Tools

News

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SPCMSC scientists will conduct sediment sampling at the Chandeleur Islands, LA

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USGS forecasts Tropical Storm Nicole could significantly impact southeastern beaches

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A Decade of Evolution

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Publications

Impacts of the ocean-atmosphere coupling into the very short range prediction system during the impact of Hurricane Matthew on Cuba

The main goal of this investigation is analyzing the impact of insert the ocean-atmosphere coupling into the very short range prediction system of Cuba. The ocean-atmosphere coupled components of the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport Modeling System are used for this purpose and the hurricane Matthew is selected as study case. Two experiments are performed: first, using a dynamic s
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey response to Hurricane Maria flooding in Puerto Rico and characterization of peak streamflows observed September 20–22, 2017

Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, as a Category 4 storm. The hurricane traversed the island from southeast to northwest and produced recorded 48-hour rainfall totals of up to 30.01 inches. Estimates of the human death toll range from 2,975 to 4,645, possibly more.The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologic monitoring network sustained substantial wind and flo

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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Surface elevation change dynamics in coastal marshes along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico: Anticipating effects of rising sea-level and intensifying hurricanes

Accelerated sea-level rise and intensifying hurricanes highlight the need to better understand surface elevation change in coastal wetlands. We used the surface elevation table-marker horizon approach to measure surface elevation change in 14 coastal marshes along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, within five National Wildlife Refuges in Texas (USA). During the 2014–2019 study period, the mean rate
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
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Science

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The USGS Coastal Change Hazards Portal shows a screenshot of Hurricane Zeta approaching the northern U.S. Gulf Coast

Hurricane Portfolio

Research conducted as part of the CRU program is determined, approved, and supported by each unit’s coordinating committee composed of representatives from the USGS, one or more of the respective State fish and wildlife agencies, the host university, the Wildlife Management Institute, and the USFWS. The stakeholder-driven nature of the program’s research portfolio is designed to ensure that the...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units
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Hurricane Portfolio

Research conducted as part of the CRU program is determined, approved, and supported by each unit’s coordinating committee composed of representatives from the USGS, one or more of the respective State fish and wildlife agencies, the host university, the Wildlife Management Institute, and the USFWS. The stakeholder-driven nature of the program’s research portfolio is designed to ensure that the...
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Data visualization with scaled options applied

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Computer Software for Calculating Shoreline Change (or positional change of a boundary over time) The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) v5 software is an add-in to Esri ArcGIS desktop (10.4-10.7+) that enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple historical shoreline positions. It provides an automated method for establishing measurement locations, performs rate...
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Computer Software for Calculating Shoreline Change (or positional change of a boundary over time) The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) v5 software is an add-in to Esri ArcGIS desktop (10.4-10.7+) that enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple historical shoreline positions. It provides an automated method for establishing measurement locations, performs rate...
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Map of a coastal area with areas defining where coral reef damage occurred and the resulting damage estimates.

Quantifying Flood Risk and Reef Risk Reduction Benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico: The Consequences of Hurricane Damage, Long-term Degradation, and Restoration Opportunities

Coastal flooding and erosion from extreme weather events affect thousands of vulnerable coastal communities; the impacts of coastal flooding are predicted to worsen during this century because of population growth and climate change. Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 were particularly devasting to humans and natural communities. The coral reefs off the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of...
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Quantifying Flood Risk and Reef Risk Reduction Benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico: The Consequences of Hurricane Damage, Long-term Degradation, and Restoration Opportunities

Coastal flooding and erosion from extreme weather events affect thousands of vulnerable coastal communities; the impacts of coastal flooding are predicted to worsen during this century because of population growth and climate change. Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 were particularly devasting to humans and natural communities. The coral reefs off the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of...
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