A new computerized task developed by U.S. Geological Survey science will help users see probabilities of hurricane-induced coastal change on Puerto Rico’s coastline before storms strike this hurricane season.
The new capability is available on the U.S. Geological Survey’s Coastal Change Hazards Portal. Viewers can see the probability of coastal change from extreme storms by clicking “Extreme Storms > Coastal Change Forecasts > Hurricane Scenarios.”
“This new capability can be used by coastal communities in Puerto Rico to inform public safety decisions related to hurricane preparedness and storm-related damage prevention, which can help save lives and property,” Legna Torres-García, the USGS research oceanographer who led the project, said in a June 12 news release.
Hurricane-induced change is devastating for the people and communities in Puerto Rico, and according to the U.S. Geological Survey, if officials, emergency managers and members of the public can see what could happen during and after a hurricane, it could help address Puerto Rico’s entire coastline, the release reported.
Using a combination of observations and modeled data, including aerial three-dimension AI data, there are three types of coastal change that the new capability will track. They’ll track erosion, overwash and inundation, which may be able to help in preparation before a storm, according to the release.
“These effects can cause long-term environmental damage, destruction of property and infrastructure, contamination of drinking water and more,” the release said.
After Hurricane Maria hit the island Sept. 22, 2017, the island was without power, cellular communication, traffic lights and road signs, according to Climate.gov. This was a few weeks after Hurricane Irma passed San Juan.
Irma had already left many of the island’s residents without electricity and water, Climate.gov reported. The winds and massive amounts of rainfall – about 15-20 inches – caused massive damage including flooding, and the communities there have struggled to recover.
Around 3,000 individuals died during and after the hurricane, and four years later, in 2021, thousands of homes were still damaged, according to NBC News. Power outages were frequent, and deterioration of many facilities was still quite obvious.
NBC News reported that damage due to Hurricane Maria was somewhere around $90 billion, and although a minimum of $63 billion had been appropriated for disaster relief and recovery, the bulk of the money hadn’t arrived on the island yet.
Learn more about natural hazards in Puerto Rico here.
