Visualizing Inundation: Improving Communication and Understanding of Coastal Risk

Hurricanes such as Sandy and Katrina have shown us the devastation that storm surge can inflict on coastal communities. In addition to the threat of tropical and extra-tropical systems, many of these areas also face frequent nuisance flooding. For instance, a recent NOAA report found that Annapolis and Baltimore, MD have seen an over 900% increase in nuisance flood days over the last 50 years (Sea Level Rise and Nuisance Flood Frequency Changes around the United States).

By consistently monitoring and reporting tidal and water level information National Ocean Service Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) has strengthened community resilience for decades. While the accuracy and reliability of this data is undeniable, relaying it effectively to stakeholders and the general public is a challenge. As such, CO-OPS has been working alongside several National Weather Service Warning Forecast Offices (WFOs) to create networks of landmarks to improve communication of inundation and impacts. These socially relevant locations will be referenced to a single benchmark reducing the confusion created by using a variety of datums. They will also visually display water level through photographs overlaid with CanVis technology.

The networks can be displayed on a variety of platforms as a data layer. One such platform will be an Inundation Dashboard currently under development at CO-OPS. They are working to meet the needs of partners and stakeholders by displaying coastal inundation information geospatially. It will feature key information from NOAA and partner water level gauges, inundation alerts, and flood event tracking.