Coastal Storm Surge Analysis: Computational System, Report 2: Intermediate Submission No. 1.2

Abstract

Abstract : The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region III office, has initiated a study to update the coastal storm surge elevations within the states of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, and the District of Columbia including the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay including its tributaries, and the Delaware Bay. This effort is one of the most extensive coastal storm surge analyses to date, encompassing coastal floodplains in three states and including the largest estuary in the world. The study will replace outdated coastal storm surge stillwater elevations for all Flood Insurance Studies in the study area, and serve as the basis for new coastal hazard analysis and ultimately updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Study efforts were initiated in August of 2008, and are expected to conclude in 2011. The storm surge study will utilize the Advanced Circulation Model for Oceanic, Coastal and Estuarine Waters (ADCIRC) for simulation of 2-dimensional hydraulics. ADCIRC will be coupled with 2-dimensional wave models to calculate the combined effects of surge and wind-induced waves. A seamless modeling grid was developed to support the storm surge modeling efforts. This report, the second of three reports comprising the required Submittal 1 documentation, provides a detailed overview of the construction of the modeling mesh and the development of an integrated computational system for FEMA Region III storm surge modeling.