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Floods
Relatively high water that overflows the natural or artificial banks of a stream or coastal area that submerges land not normally below water level.
Subtopics:
Storm surge (8 items)

Flood preparedness (7 items)
Related topics:
Results 1 - 59 of 59 listed by similarity [list alphabetically]
Large floods in the United States: where they happen and why [More info]
Discussion of large floods and occurrence in relationship to regional climatology, topography, and basin size.
Natural Hazards - Floods [More info]
News and related information focusing on the hazards associated with floods in the United States.
An overview of coastal land loss with emphasis on the southeastern United States [More info]
Comprehensive background information on coastal land loss, discussing the influence of waves and storms, the intrinsic characteristics of the shoreline materials, and the role of human activities.
USGS news and information on El Nino [More info]
Information sources on El Nino effects such as landslides, coastal hazards, floods. Includes links to maps and images.
Water Watch: current water resources conditions [More info]
U.S. map of real-time streamflow compared to historical values with links to U.S. maps and data of surface water, ground water, precipitation, river conditions and floods and other information on current and past water resources conditions.
Assessment of potential coastal impacts: Hurricane Rita [More info]
Areas susceptible to inundation during landfall of Hurricane Rita are assessed by comparing lidar-derived dune elevations to simulated storm surge values. Results shown on pictorial maps.
Mississippi River flood: April 2001 [More info]
A large collection of photographs showing the historic flooding of the upper Mississippi River near LaCrosse, Wisconsin and points south during April of 2001. Includes video footage as well.
The Great Flood of 1993 [More info]
Photos, publicatons and recordbreaking flood peaks from the flood that included 9 states, the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and completely inundated 75 towns.
Upper Mississippi River basin: water quality, water elevation, and discharge [More info]
Information on flood potential and water quality in the upper Mississipi River, including downloadable data and map images.
Flood frequency [More info]
Links to Office of Surface Water memos, reference publications, training guides, and software for computing flood frequency.
Flood of April and May 2008 in Northern Maine [More info]
Characteristics and effects of a flood in this area.
PDF Floods of May 2006 and April 2007 in Southern Maine [More info]
Characteristics and consequences of some extreme storm events
PDF 100-Year flood - It's all about chance [More info]
Explains the concept, probabilistic nature, and inherent uncertainties of the 100-year flood to those who are unfamiliar with this concept.
PDF Epic Flooding in Georgia, 2009 [More info]
In September of 2009, flooding in parts of Georgia reached levels expected every 500 years. Specific measurements we made and other facts about these disasters described here should help people prepare for floods here and elsewhere.
PDF Extreme drought to extreme floods: summary of hydrologic conditions in Georgia, 2009 [More info]
Discusses the nature and extent of extreme hydrologic events, with supporting observations of the water conditions and their effects on human activities.
PDF Historic Flooding in South Georgia, March 27-April 3, 2009 [More info]
Explains the meteorological and hydrologic conditions that led to widespread flooding in this area.
PDF Historic flooding in northern Georgia, September 16-22, 2009 [More info]
Explains the meteorological and hydrologic conditions that led to widespread flooding in this area.
PDF Historical changes in annual peak flows in Maine and implications for flood-frequency analyses [More info]
Annual peak flows have increased at most rivers in Maine during the last century. What effect does this have on computed peak flows, such as the 100-year flows, that are used for designing bridges and other structures?
Kansas flood watch [More info]
Flood map of Kansas link to real-time data for stream gaging stations and links to flood press releases, historic floods of Kansas, flood frequency data, photos, information on hydrology of floods, and flood hazard maps.
PDF Methods for estimating magnitude and frequency of floods in rural basins in the southeastern United States: South Carolina [More info]
Flood estimates are needed for the efficient design of bridges, highway embankments, levees, to protect lives and property in flood-prone areas, and to determine flood-insurance rates.
PDF Monitoring floods and fires during the summer of 2011--The value of the Landsat satellite 40-year archives [More info]
Examples showing the use of historical satellite imagery for assessing the extent and severity of landscape hazards such as fires and floods.
Popular myths about flooding in Western Washington [More info]
The so-called "100-year" flood is really more like the 4 ½ year flood. This can help emergency managers enhance public awareness of how often flooding truly occurs in a region. It also could help convince those people in harm's way that preparedness is m
Real-time flood alert system for Puerto Rico [More info]
Web-based analytical facility designed to integrate data relevant to flood emergencies in Puerto Rico.
Water resources of Virginia - floods [More info]
Brief description of project for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to prepare and modify Flood Insurance Rate Maps based on flood frequency analysis, ground surveys, and flood profiles in Virginia.
Water resources of Washington State - Flood hazards [More info]
Description of the Flood Hazards study project by Water Resources Program in Tacoma, Washington with links to other flood hazard projects.
PDF A dryland river transformed--the Little Colorado, 1936-2010 [More info]
We mapped substantial migration of the river channel between the City of Winslow and the Navajo Nation community of Leupp; in a human lifetime the river has moved more than a mile across its valley floor.
PDF Calculating weighted estimates of peak streamflow statistics [More info]
A method of improving our estimates of statistics used to describe flood frequency, taking into account information obtained from the stream whose flood frequency is being investigated.
PDF Coastal Change During Hurricane Dennis 2005 [More info]
Summary of study to document the impact of Hurricane Dennis on Santa Rosa Island, in the Florida Panhandle.
PDF Coastal Change During Hurricane Isabel 2003 [More info]
Summary of study to document the impact of Hurricane Isabel in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, near Cape Hatteras. Methods included pre- and post-storm photography, videography, and lidar.
PDF Coastal change during Hurricane Ivan 2004 [More info]
Summary of study to document the impact of Hurricane Ivan on the Gulf coast of Alabama near the Florida border.
PDF Debris-Flow Hazards within the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States [More info]
Storms bring rains strong enough to cause rock-falls and landslides that are hazardous to people. Includes examples in the eastern US with information about the weather events that precipitated the debris flows.
Hurricane Katrina photographs August 30, 2005 [More info]
Photographic survey of the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on the barrier islands, barrier shoreline, and the Mississippi River Delta along the Louisiana coastline. Primary focus is on the ecosystems such as fish, rookeries, and seagrass beds.
Louisiana HydroWatch [More info]
Homepage for the statewide real-time hydrologic monitoring network featuring the latest hydrologic information in Louisiana.
Maine Cooperative Snow Survey [More info]
The Maine Cooperative Snow Survey collects, interprets, and distributes information on the depth and water content of Maine's snowpack in the late winter and early spring, when the danger of flooding in Maine's rivers and streams is greatest.
Michigan hydrologic summary [More info]
Links to websites providing data and information related to Michigan hydrology including droughts, floods, current water conditions, Great Lakes water levels, climatology, and weather.
National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards [More info]
The National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards is a multi-year undertaking to identify and quantify the vulnerability of U.S. shorelines to coastal change hazards such as the effects of severe storms, sea-level rise, and shoreline erosion and retreat.
National Water Information System (NWISWeb) data for Illinois [More info]
National Information Water System (NWIS) water data for Illinois including real-time current conditions, streamflow data, site information, ground-water data, and water-quality data.
PDF Natural Hazards - A National Threat [More info]
Describes the role USGS plays in reducing losses from natural disasters, itemizing specific information we develop and maintain to help mitigate or avoid these problems.
Natural Hazards Gateway [More info]
News and related information about the importance of seven major types of natural hazards in the United States: earthquakes, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, landslides, volcanoes, and tsunamis.
Natural Hazards Support System [More info]
Shows where current natural hazard events are occurring within the US or worldwide, with information about the geographic extent of the hazard, the US agency engaged to work on it, and how long the hazard is expected be active.
Natural hazards [More info]
Research and monitoring to provide the Nation with a clear understanding of natural hazards and their potential threats to society, and assists with developing smart, cost-effective strategies for achieving preparedness and resilience.
Pennsylvania downloadable spatial data (GIS data files) [More info]
Pennsylvania digital data for watershed boundaries, county geology, and flood mapping in Arc/Info format compressed with gzip utility for downloading plus links to other sources of data.
Surface water information pages [More info]
Lead page for detailed United States surface water information with links to real-time and historic streamflow data, suspended sediment data, USGS programs and facilities, publications, techniques, and featured news releases.
Topics in coastal and marine sciences: Coastal erosion [More info]
Topics in Coastal and Marine Sciences provides background science materials, definitions, and links to give a common context for users from a variety of backgrounds. Coastal erosion was chosen as the first topic.
USGS Pacific coral reefs website [More info]
Overview of research in the Hawaiian Islands and Guam to gain insight into the structure of coral reefs, to provide the basis for future monitoring, and to understand the influences of natural processes and human activities on coral reef health.
Water resource investigations in Montana [More info]
Information on objectives, approach, status, and publications of various research projects investigating water resources in Montana including studies on wetlands, bridge scour, reconstructed wetlands, abandoned mine lands, and others.
Water resources of Georgia [More info]
USGS water resources home page for Georgia with links to detailed hydrologic studies and real-time and long-term data for streamflow, ground and surface water, water quality, and floods, plus drought watch, current projects, and connections.
Water resources of Illinois [More info]
USGS water resources home page for Illinois with links to detailed hydrologic studies and real-time and long-term data on streamflow, ground and surface water, droughts, flooding, and water quality with highlights and project information.
Water resources of Iowa [More info]
USGS water resources home page for Iowa with links to hydrologic studies and real-time and historical data on floods, streamflow, ground and surface water, sediment, precipitation, and water quality plus news releases, publications and contacts.
Water resources of Kansas [More info]
USGS water resources home page for Kansas with links to detailed hydrologic studies and real-time and historical data on streamflow, ground and surface water, and water quality plus flood watch, drought watch, publications, and district news.
Water resources of Massachusetts and Rhode Island [More info]
USGS water resource home page for Massachusetts and Rhode Island with detailed hydrologic studies and historic and real-time data on streamflow, ground and surface water, basins, floods, droughts, and water quality, plus district news.
Water resources of Michigan [More info]
USGS water resources home page for Michigan with links to detailed hydrologic studies and historic and real-time data on streamflow, ground and surface water, weather, water management, droughts, floods, and water quality.
Water resources of Minnesota [More info]
USGS water resource home page for Minnesota with links to detailed hydrologic studies and historic and real-time data for streamflow, ground and surface water, floods, and water quality plus district information.
Water resources of Montana [More info]
USGS water resources home page for Montana with links to detailed hydrologic studies and historic and real-time data on streamflow, ground and surface water, floods, and water quality plus publications and district information.
Water resources of North Carolina [More info]
USGS water resources home page for North Carolina with links to hydrologic studies and long-term and real-time data on streamflow, ground and surface water, floods, droughts, precipitation, and water quality plus district information.
Water resources of North Carolina - current district projects [More info]
Links to description, publications, data, and maps for research projects on North Carolina water resources.
Water resources of Texas - USGS activities in Texas [More info]
USGS water resources home page for Texas with links to historic and real-time data on streamflow, ground and surface water, floods, droughts, coastal storm surge, lakes and reservoirs, and water quality plus district and publications information.
Water resources of Virginia - small basin runoff [More info]
Overview of a project to evaluate existing methods used by Virginia Dept. of Transportation to estimate flood hydrographs from small drainage basins, and evaluate the use of dimensionless hydrographs to estimate runoff volumes.
Water resources of the United States [More info]
Primary homepage for USGS programs in water resources with links to water data, publications and products, technical resources, major programs, and water information services.
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