As Hurricane Floyd continues to bring heavy rain and dangerous storm surges to the Atlantic Coast, USGS scientists are tackling the challenges that a storm of this intensity brings to coastal resources -- from flood-swollen rivers, to saturated hillsides, to vulnerable barrier islands, to altered wildlife habitats.

Flooding

The USGS network of streamflow gaging stations located in every state continuously provide information on the rising floodwaters from the rain associated with Hurricane Floyd. Information transmitted via satellite is available to federal, state and local emergency-management officials and to the public at http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html. This real-time information is indispensable for emergency preparedness and the rapid communication of flood information to National Weather Service river forecast centers, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Although many USGS offices along Floyd's path were closed on Thursday as a safeguard for their employees, essential staff were in the field monitoring the flood conditions, making flood measurements and flagging high-water marks.

As of Thursday evening, September 16, at 5:00 PM:

• In North Carolina the Tar and Neuse Rivers were above flood stage and continue to rise. USGS crews have been hampered in reaching stream measurement sites due to flooded roads, toppled trees and power lines, and road blocks as utility crews work to restore power.

• The most severe flooding in South Carolina occurred in the Waccamaw River basin. In the area near Longs, South Carolina, the Waccamaw River may crest near or exceed the historical high streamflow based on 49 years of continuous streamflow data. Western portions of both North and South Carolina continue to experience severe drought conditions.

• Flooding in Maryland and Delaware was occurring in the Patuxent
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