Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms

Hurricane Ike

Pre- and Post-Storm Photo Comparisons - High Island to Sabine Pass, TX

Location index for photo pairs of High Island to Sabine Pass, TX. Green line represents the storm track of Hurricane Ike.

Location 1: Oblique aerial photography near McFaddin Wildlife Refuge, TX on September 9, 2008 (top) and September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike (bottom). Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. Widespread inundation and persistent flooding are obvious here—and the extent of coastal change is difficult to assess. [larger version]

Location 2: Oblique aerial photography near McFaddin Wildlife Refuge, TX, on September 9, 2008 (top) and September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike (bottom). Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. Again, widespread inundation and persistent flooding are obvious. The white foam at the bottom of the post-storm photo is due to the return flow cascading over the berm as the area drains into the Gulf of Mexico. [larger version]

Location 3: Oblique aerial photography near McFaddin Wildlife Refuge, TX, on September 9, 2008 (top) and September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike (bottom). Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. Evidence of widespread inundation is apparent here. The flooded area continues to drain through a channel that cuts through the roadway. The dunes have been eroded and dissected. Backflow through this area transported sediment offshore. [larger version]

Location 4: Oblique aerial photography near the Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge, TX, on September 9, 2008 (top) and September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike (bottom). Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. Severe inundation and erosion of channels through the beach from a seaward-directed flow are evident here. [larger version]

Location 5: Oblique aerial photography west of Sabine Pass, TX, on September 9, 2008 (top) and September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike (bottom). Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. Evidence of coastal change includes significant beach erosion and sediment redeposition by water flowing seaward through backflow channels. [larger version]

Science that Weathers the Storm: USGS Responds to Ike
USGS