PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (DC DE MD) Response to Hurricane Sandy--MD-DE-DC WSC

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:34:50 EDT

Summary: Substantial rainfall and strong winds from Hurricane Sandy on Sunday, October 28, 2012 through Tuesday, October 30, 2012 caused widespread, moderate coastal and riverine flooding across Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.

Rainfall totals ranging from 5 to 10 inches across the area caused moderate riverine flooding. Storm surge combined with widespread tropical storm-to-hurricane force winds caused significant flooding and damage in many coastal locations.
In today's response to this event the USGS MD-DE-DC Water Science Center deployed 10 field crews (one to three persons per crew) using 21 Center staff to measure riverine discharges and repair storm-damaged streamflow gages, collect suspended-sediment samples, collect broad-spectrum water-qusality parameters, re-install water-quality monitoring instruments that had been removed before the storm, and retrieve coastal storm-surge sensors. Notable riverine discharges were generally in the 50-percent to 20-percent chance range.

Sub-Region: Mid Atlantic; Region: Eastern United States