Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2016 16:02:25 EDT
Summary: USGS-South Atlantic WSC field crews continue deploying sensors for Hurricane Matthew.
The USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC) is continuing with deploying 203 continuous water level sensors and 22 Rapid Deployment Gages (RDGs) starting on October 5th in support of a FEMA mission assignment tasking. Hurricane Matthew is currently a major hurricane and is heading toward the Atlantic coastline of the United States.
Forecast surge along the Georgia coast shows extensive inundation of 9+ feet above ground surface. Expected surge along the South Carolina coast varies between 3-5 feet above ground surface. Surge forecasts for North Carolina will be defined as the storm gets closer.
Currently across the coastlines of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, there are 38 SAWSC employees (18 teams) helping to deploy 23 Rapid Deployment Gages (RDGs) and 134 Storm Surge Sensors (SSSs). SSS numbers have been revised down given the change of the storm path. All RDGs in Georgia and South Carolina should be transmitting by later today. The last RDG in North Carolina should be active early tomorrow morning.
All SAWSC crews will fall back to safe areas starting tomorrow. Plans are being put into place for recovery of the sensors and potential high-water mark campaigns starting on Sunday, October 9th as soon as safe conditions allow.
The Savannah, Columbia, Sullivan's Island, and Conway offices remain officially closed, but field operations will continue as needed.