DAMAGE MAPS & OTHER RESOURCES

Tim Vasquez

Tim Vasquez

EF5
Joined
Dec 4, 2003
Messages
3,411
I have no idea if anything like this is floating around on the Internet, but I decided we ought to have our own elevation map. This is derived from USGS 7.5-deg DEM data. Thanks to my wife (Shannon Key Vasquez) for developing the color scheme. Click to enlarge.

>>> Enlarge <<<

You really get a sense for what bad shape the 9th Ward is in.
 
Here is a link to extremely high resolution aerial photography of the entire MS coast. Click on the areas you want to see.

http://alt.ngs.noaa.gov/katrina/KATRINA0000.HTM

This imagery was acquired by the NOAA Remote Sensing Division to support NOAA national security and emergency response requirements. In addition, it will be used for ongoing research efforts for testing and developing standards for airborne digital imagery.

Please note that these images are uncorrected and not rotated. The approximate ground sample distance (GSD) for each pixel is 37 cm (1.2 feet). The images have 60% forward overlap, and sidelap unknown. Image file size is between 2 MB and 3 MB.
 
Thanks, Ryan, that's a great resource... interesting that people in Mississippi can even check on their houses that way. One would hope they add Louisiana soon. Anyhow here's something of a more environmental nature to add to the bag:


>> Enlarge
 
Damage maps and socioeconomic maps

Perhaps this post is the result of allowing a guest social scientist into the conversation, but has anyone positioned a socioeconomic map on top of a damage map?
 
Couple of new developments today:

* Google Earth has added damage imagery. I didn't get to check it out in depth because it severely bogged down my laptop, but it appears to be only a mirror of the NOAA survey stuff posted above (i.e. Mississippi).

* Digital Globe has one large aerial image of flooded downtown New Orleans and two Mississippi images.

Tim
 
Revision 2

Click to enlarge

Yesterday's MODIS clearly shows that the Kenner-Metairie area is not flooded as a few press stories implied (yet not stated outright). Thus the flood shading in that area has been removed. It appears the East Jefferson Parish levee has held. However reconciling the press reports and some darkening in Metairie it appears some localized flooding (probably of elevations below -3 to -5 ft MSL) have occurred.

In New Orleans, I determine the flood height to be about 6-7 ft MSL (3-4 ft above normal Lake Pontchartrain level). References for this:

* Panorama of downtown in distance -- Northwest of downtown at Orleans Ave & Moss St. Ground is 0 ft MSL and flood waters appear to be about 4-5 ft deep, so flood level is 4-5 ft MSL.

* Prisoners rounded up on bridge -- This shot is northwest of downtown at Broad & Perdido looking NE. Ground elevation is 0 ft MSL. The buildings on the left appear to be flooded up to about 5 ft deep, so flood surface appears to be 5 ft MSL.

* I-610 & St Bernard looking westbound - ground is 0 ft MSL. There are embankments in this photo but structures seem to be submerged to about 5-6 ft, suggesting a 5-6 ft MSL flood level.

* This aerial shot of south Superdome area shows flooding over an area that has elevation of 0 (left) to 5 ft MSL (right); building on right near freeway has a benchmark of 5 ft MSL and is flooded. This shows the highest-altitude evidence; perhaps in the 6-10 ft MSL range.

Anyhow it appears we have the only flood map on the Internet (even after scouring news.yahoo.com and other sites). If anyone notices any errors please let me know. Or if you find any better maps, we'll link to that instead. Based on best available data.

Tim
 
Tim,
NOTE this a repost, I posted it on the root level of the forum and later realized I should have posted it here.

*****************
My original post

Tim, great job on

http://www.stormtrack.org/special/msyflood.jpg

I have friends who live in New Orleans, Ron Picou a local artist, they live near Royal and Mandevill. I am trying to find out how hard they were hit.
I tried to find a street overlay and a flood map but can't.
What I did was go to Google maps (the more link on the main google
page)

http://maps.google.com/

and looked up New Orleans, then zoomed in on Ron's area, their house is 4 blocks from the top bend of the river.
Then I used your map to try and see how flooded they are.

http://www.stormtrack.org/special/msyflood.jpg

Their house is 4 blocks in from the river, just north of the "e" in
"French Quarter" on your map and it looks like the corner of Royal and Mandeville is right on the edge of the flooding.

It would be great if there was an overlay of your map and a street map.

Craig

Also one response was in posted in that thread by msbelle442, it is a great site that the word needs to get out on, more people need to post status reports here.
http://www.scipionus.com/

*****************

Also a previous link in this thread posted by Ryan McGinnis does not seem to take me to, or I can't find on that page the map mentioned. Ryan can you repost or can any one help point me to the map?

Ryans post
Clikable/zoomable/moveable aerial map of NOLA for Aug 30, 2005. You can clearly see where the flooding is and isn't:
http://backingwinds.blogspot.com/

*****************

Thanks again to Tim and everyone on this site for your help.
Craig
 
Ryan, thanks so much for the satellite site. I passed the link on to my son, and they were able to find their place in Pass Christian. Except for some minor roof damage, everything looks ok.
Thanks again!!!
Angie
 
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