Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2016 17:44:55 EDT
Summary: USGS South Atlantic WSC Finalizes Deployment of Storm Sensors for Hurricane Matthew.
The USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC) is finalizing the deploying continuous water level sensors and Rapid Deployment Gages (RDGs) in support of a FEMA mission assignment tasking. Hurricane Matthew is still a significant hurricane that is tracking along the Atlantic coastline of the United States. The eye of the storm is approaching the FL/GA line.
The Savannah, Columbia, Sullivan's Island, and Conway offices remain officially closed today, but field operations continue as needed. They are anticipated to re-open on Tuesday for normal operations.
Forecast surge along the Georgia coast shows extensive inundation of 6+ 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 have been 38 SAWSC employees (18 teams) helping to deploy 24 RDGs, 123 Storm Surge Sensors (SSSs), 69 barometric pressure sensors, and 79 wave sensors. All RDGs in Georgia and South Carolina are transmitting and posted on the USGS FEV and NWISWeb webpages.
Our Columbia office received an emergency request for RDGs near Georgetown, SC mid-day today because of the impending effects of the storm. Crews were able to scramble to install one (1) RDG and are now heading back to Columbia.
A Facebook live broadcast was taped today and can be found on the USGS Facebook page.
Operations will continue through the holiday weekend. Field teams will fall back to safe locations as the storm passes. Potential high-water mark campaigns are being organized. Recovery of sensors is expected to commence on Sunday.