Wind speed, in miles per hour

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5036

Prepared in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From 

Hurricane Sandy in New York
Front cover. A, Vehicles partly submerged at an entrance to a flooded parking garage in the Financial District of Manhattan; photograph 

courtesy of Frankie Torres / Flickr. B, Sailboats stranded in a street in Great Kills, Staten Island; photograph courtesy of the BoatUS Marine 

Insurance Program. C, Strength and direction of Hurricane Sandy’s ocean surface winds on October 28, 2012. Wind speeds above 40 miles per 

hour (mi/hr) are depicted in yellow, above 50 mi/hr are in orange, and above 60 mi/hr are in red; wind directions are indicated by black arrows. 

Map is modified from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (2013) produced with data from a radar scatterometer on the Indian 

Space Research Organization’s Oceansat-2.

Back cover. A, A boardwalk swept off its pilings in Rockaway, Queens; photograph courtesy of John Huntington / Shutterstock. B, The 

168-foot John B. Caddell water tanker aground in a parking lot in Stapleton, Staten Island; photograph courtesy of Sean Sweeney. C, A vehicle 

swept off a street in Great Kills, Staten Island; photograph courtesy of Rob Gross / Flickr. D, A boat stranded on the railroad tracks at Metro 

North’s Ossining Station on the Hudson Line; photograph courtesy of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York / 

Flickr. 

A

B

C

A

B

C

D
Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From 

Hurricane Sandy in New York

By Christopher E. Schubert, Ronald Busciolano, Paul P. Hearn, Jr., Ami N. Rahav, 

Riley Behrens, Jason Finkelstein, Jack Monti, Jr., and Amy E. Simonson

Prepared in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5036

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2015

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living 

resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit http://www.usgs.gov/ or call 1–888–ASK–USGS.

For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, 

visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/.

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials 

as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.

Suggested citation:

Schubert, C.E., Busciolano, Ronald, Hearn, P.P., Jr., Rahav, A.N., Behrens, Riley, Finkelstein, Jason, Monti, Jack, Jr., 

and Simonson, A.E., 2015, Analysis of storm-tide impacts from Hurricane Sandy in New York: U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5036, 75 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155036.

ISSN 2328–031X (print)

ISSN 2328-0328 (online)
iii

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II for support and 

cooperation under the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). The assistance of many individuals 

is greatly appreciated. In particular, the temporary monitoring network deployment and highwater-mark flagging and surveying campaign were undertaken by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

staff from more than 14 USGS science center offices and 2 USGS storm-surge coordination centers. The authors would also like to highlight the leadership of Alan Springett, risk assessment 

team lead of FEMA Region II, and Robert Mason, acting chief of the USGS Office of Surface 

Water, in articulating the need for this novel analysis. Valuable coordination and assistance during the investigation were provided by Brian Lacasse, Craig Skalet, Austen K. Cutrell, and H.E. 

“Gene” Longenecker III of FEMA and J. Andrew Martin of Dewberry/Risk Assessment, Mapping, 

and Planning Partners. Thoughtful comments on this manuscript were provided by David Bjerklie 

and Tristen Tagliaferri of the USGS.
iv

Contents

Acknowledgements......................................................................................................................................iii

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2

Meteorological History of Hurricane Sandy ....................................................................................2

Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy .........................................................................7

Peak Storm-Tide Elevation ..................................................................................................................7

Comparison With Historical Storms .........................................................................................7

December 1992 Nor’easter ...............................................................................................7

Tropical Storm Irene .........................................................................................................16

Historical Peak Water-Level Elevations ........................................................................16

Comparison With Annual Exceedance Probabilities ...........................................................16

Storm Surge.........................................................................................................................................30

Storm-Surge Magnitude Associated With Peak Storm Tide ..............................................30

Magnitude and Timing of Peak Storm Surge ........................................................................30

Extent of Storm-Tide Inundation .......................................................................................................30

Mapping of Inundation Extent .................................................................................................30

HAZUS Flood Loss Analyses ....................................................................................................42

Summary and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................42

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................49

Glossary.........................................................................................................................................................75

Figures

1. Map showing location of study area in New York and tracks of Hurricane Sandy,

Tropical Storm Irene, and the storm of December 11–13, 1992, in the North 

Atlantic region...............................................................................................................................3

2. Map showing locations of permanent and temporary monitoring sites and

high-water-mark sites that documented the storm tide of Hurricane Sandy in 

New York .......................................................................................................................................5

3. Map showing the strength and direction of Hurricane Sandy’s ocean surface 

winds on October 28, 2012...........................................................................................................6

4. Map showing peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy in 

New York counties........................................................................................................................9

5. Schematic diagram showing Federal Emergency Management Agency coastal

flood hazard zones and effects of wave heights on base flood elevations ......................10

6. Maps showing A, differences in feet between peak storm-tide elevations, and 

B, differences in percent between peak storm-tide elevations, produced by 

Hurricane Sandy and the storm of December 11–13, 1992, in New York ..........................13

7. Maps showing A, differences in feet between peak storm-tide elevations, and 

B, differences in percent between peak storm-tide elevations, produced by 

Hurricane Sandy and Tropical Storm Irene in New York .....................................................21

8. Map showing selected annual exceedance probabilities for peak storm-tide 

elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy in New York counties .......................................29

9. Maps showing A, storm-surge magnitude associated with the peak storm tide, 

and B, magnitude of the peak storm surge, produced by Hurricane Sandy in 

New York counties......................................................................................................................33
v

10. Maps showing extent of storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy in New 

York counties that was derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) storm-tide 

data available for A, National Hurricane Center Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges 

from Hurricanes model hindcast product dated October 31, 2012, B, Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) interim high-resolution product based on 

USGS data available from storm landfall through November 11, 2012, and C, FEMA 

final high-resolution product based on USGS data available from storm landfall 

through February 14, 2013 .........................................................................................................37

11. Maps showing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazus Program 

estimated total building stock losses due to storm-tide inundation from Hurricane 

Sandy in selected New York counties for inundation depicted in A, National 

Hurricane Center Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes model hindcast 

product dated October 31, 2012, B, FEMA interim high-resolution product based 

on U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data available from storm landfall through 

November 11, 2012, and C, FEMA final high-resolution product based on USGS data 

available from storm landfall through February 14, 2013 .....................................................43

12. Graph showing Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazus Program 

estimated total building stock losses due to storm-tide inundation from Hurricane 

Sandy in selected New York counties .....................................................................................46

13. Graphs showing differences between Federal Emergency Management Agency 

Hazus Program estimated total building stock losses due to storm-tide inundation 

from Hurricane Sandy in selected New York counties ........................................................46

Tables

1. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by storm of December 11–13, 1992, at 27 

high-water-mark sites, and peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane

Sandy at nearby sites in New York ..........................................................................................11

2. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy, Tropical Storm Irene,

and historical peak water-level elevations, dates of occurrence, and periods of

record at 19 permanent monitoring sites in New York .........................................................17

3. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy and Tropical Storm Irene

at 23 temporary monitoring sites in New York .......................................................................18

4. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Tropical Storm Irene at 10 highwater-mark sites, and peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy 

at nearby sites in New York ......................................................................................................19

5. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 24 permanent 

monitoring sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency 

flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities 

(10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year recurrence intervals) in New York.........................................24

6. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 43 temporary

monitoring sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency

flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities

(10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year recurrence intervals) in New York.........................................26

7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark

sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood 

elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 

50-, 100-, and 500-year recurrence intervals) in New York..................................................51

8. Storm-surge magnitude associated with the peak storm tide, and magnitude and

timing of the peak storm surge, produced by Hurricane Sandy at 18 permanent

monitoring sites in New York ....................................................................................................31
vi

[Inch/Pound to International System of Units]

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Flow rate

mile per hour (mi/h) 1.609 kilometer per hour (km/h) 

Datum

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88) and the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Elevation, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Abbreviations

BFE base flood elevation

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

HWM high-water mark

NAVD 88 North American Vertical Datum of 1988

NGVD 29 National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929

NHC National Hurricane Center

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

USGS U.S. Geological Survey
Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 

in New York

By Christopher E. Schubert,1 Ronald Busciolano,1 Paul P. Hearn, Jr.,1 Ami N. Rahav,2 Riley Behrens,1

Jason Finkelstein,1 Jack Monti, Jr.,1 and Amy E. Simonson1

1

U.S. Geological Survey

2

Harris IT Contracting

3

Bold text is defined in the glossary.

Abstract

The hybrid cyclone-nor’easter3 known as Hurricane 

Sandy affected the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States 

during October 28–30, 2012, causing extensive coastal flooding. Prior to storm landfall, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

deployed a temporary monitoring network from Virginia to 

Maine to record the storm tide and coastal flooding generated 

by Hurricane Sandy. This sensor network augmented USGS and 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

networks of permanent monitoring sites that also documented 

storm surge. Continuous data from these networks were supplemented by an extensive post-storm high-water-mark (HWM) 

flagging and surveying campaign. The sensor deployment and 

HWM campaign were conducted under a directed mission 

assignment by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(FEMA). The need for hydrologic interpretation of monitoring 

data to assist in flood-damage analysis and future flood mitigation prompted the current analysis of Hurricane Sandy by the 

USGS under this FEMA mission assignment.

The analysis of storm-tide impacts focused on three 

distinct but related aspects of coastal flooding from Hurricane Sandy, including flooding inland along the tidal reach 

of the Hudson River. These aspects are (1) comparisons of 

peak storm-tide elevations to those of historical storms and 

to annual exceedance probabilities, (2) assessments of 

storm-surge characteristics, and (3) comparisons of maps of 

inundation extent that were derived from differing amounts of 

available storm-tide data. Most peak storm-tide elevations from 

Hurricane Sandy were greater than about 9.5 feet (ft) above 

North American Vertical Datum of 1988.

Peak storm-tide elevations from Hurricane Sandy 

were compared with data for the intense nor’easter of 

December 11–13, 1992, and Hurricane Irene (August 27–28, 

2011), which weakened to a tropical storm before arriving in 

New York. Peak storm-tide elevations from Hurricane Sandy 

were higher than those from the December 1992 nor’easter at 

24 of 27 sites; most differences were greater than about 0.7 ft 

or 9 percent (above the historical storm tide). Peak storm-tide 

elevations from Hurricane Sandy were higher than those from 

Tropical Storm Irene at all sites; most differences were greater 

than about 2.5 ft or 48 percent. Data from permanent and 

temporary monitoring sites and HWM sites were compared 

with corresponding FEMA flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, 

and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities in New York. 

Peak storm-tide elevations from Hurricane Sandy had annual 

exceedance probabilities less than or equal to 1 percent and (or) 

greater than 0.2 percent at a plurality of sites—184 of 413. Peak 

storm-tide elevations greater than or equal to the 0.2-percent 

flood elevation accounted for 81 of 413 sites. Peak storm-tide 

elevations less than the 10-percent flood elevation accounted for 

only 10 of 413 sites.

Data from selected permanent monitoring sites in the 

USGS and NOAA networks were used to assess storm-surge 

magnitude associated with the peak storm tide, and magnitude and timing of the peak storm surge. Most magnitudes of 

the peak storm surge were greater than about 8.3 ft, and most 

magnitudes of the storm surge component of the peak storm 

tide were greater than about 7.8 ft. Timing of peak storm surge 

arrival with respect to local phase of tide controlled where 

the most extreme peak storm-tide levels and coastal flooding occurred. This finding has bearing not only for locations 

impacted by the highest storm tides from Hurricane Sandy, 

but also for those that had the greatest storm surges yet were 

spared the worst flooding because of fortuitous timing during 

this storm.

Results of FEMA Hazus Program (HAZUS) flood loss 

analyses performed for New York counties were compared 

for extents of storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy 

mapped (1) pre-storm, (2) on November 11, 2012, and (3) on 

February 14, 2013. The resulting depictions of estimated total 

building stock losses document how differing amounts of available USGS data affect the resolution and accuracy of storm-tide 

inundation extents. Using the most accurate results from the 

final (February 14, 2013) inundation extent, estimated losses 

range from $380 million to $5.9 billion for individual New York 

counties; total estimated aggregate losses are about $23 billion 

for all New York counties. Quality of the inundation extents 

used in HAZUS analyses has a substantial effect on final results. 

These findings can be used to inform future post-storm reconstruction planning and estimation of insurance claims.
2 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Introduction 3

DELAWARE

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data 1:1,000,000 series

Projection: Albers equal area conic

Standard Parallels 29° 30' N and 45° 30' N; central median 96° W

North American Datum of 1983

Study area—Detail

is shown in figure 2

0 50 100 200 MILES

0 50 100 200 KILOMETERS

EXPLANATION

Storm track

Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Irene

Storm of December 11–13, 1992

Extratropical cyclone

Tropical storm

Hurricane

Major hurricane

Storm type

E

M

H

S

A T L A N T I C

 O C E A N

New York

Bight

QUEBEC

OHIO

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

VIRGINIA

MAINE

NEW YORK

KENTUCKY

NORTH CAROLINA

PENNSYLVANIA

SOUTH CAROLINA

WEST VIRGINIA

VERMONT

MASSACHUSETTS

CONN.

MARYLAND

NEW

JERSEY

NEW

HAMPSHIRE

RHODE ISLAND

Lake

Huron

Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

H

ONTARIO

QUEBEC NOVA

SCOTIA

NEW

BRUNSWICK

E E E E E E E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E EE

E

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

S

S

H

H

H

H

H

E

E

S

S

S

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

80° W 75° W 70° W 65° W 60° W

45° N

40° N

35° N

30° N

25° N

Figure 1. Location of study area in New York and tracks of Hurricane Sandy, Tropical Storm Irene, and the storm 

of December 11–13, 1992, in the North Atlantic region. Storm position and intensity values for Hurricane Sandy and 

Tropical Storm Irene are from National Hurricane Center (2013a). Position values for storm of December 11–13, 1992, 

are from Andrew Cox (Oceanweather, Inc., written commun., 2013).

Introduction

The hybrid cyclone nor’easter known as Hurricane Sandy 

affected the mid-Atlantic and northeastern coastline of the 

United States during October 28–30, 2012 (fig. 1), producing 

northeast-to-southeast winds of tropical-storm strength (39 to 

73 miles per hour [mi/hr]) that gusted to greater than hurricane 

strength (greater than 73 mi/hr) and causing extensive coastal 

flooding and beach erosion. Severe tidal flooding occurred 

along coastal areas of southeastern New York, northern 

New Jersey, and southern Connecticut during the afternoon 

of October 29 and continued through the early morning of 

October 30. Although peak storm-tide levels occurred near 

the times of normal tidal high water during October 29–30, 

widespread tidal flooding that began during the morning 

of October 29 did not subside in some coastal areas until 

October 31.

Prior to storm landfall, the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) deployed a temporary monitoring network of waterlevel and barometric pressure sensors to continuously record 

the timing, areal extent, and magnitude of the storm tide and 

coastal flooding generated by Hurricane Sandy (McCallum 

and others, 2013). Sensors were deployed at 224 locations 

along the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Maine, including 

59 in New York alone (fig. 2). The temporary monitoring 

network augmented USGS and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) networks of permanent monitoring sites (fig. 2) that also documented storm surge—the 

difference (when positive) between the observed water level 

and the normal (predicted astronomical) tide level. Continuous data from these networks were greatly supplemented by 

an extensive post-storm high-water-mark (HWM) flagging and 

surveying campaign from November to December 2012. More 

than 950 HWMs were measured along the mid-Atlantic and 

northeastern coastline; roughly one-third of these were measured in southeastern New York and north along the Hudson 

River to the head-of-tide at the Federal Dam in Troy (fig. 2).

The temporary monitoring network deployment and 

HWM flagging and surveying campaign were undertaken as 

part of a coordinated Federal emergency response as outlined by the Stafford Act (Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

and Emergency Management Act, Public Law 93–288, as 

amended, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) under a directed mission 

assignment by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(FEMA). The methods and data associated with these activities are described in a rapid-delivery report that provides a 

quantitative historical record of Hurricane Sandy (McCallum 

and others, 2013). The need for hydrologic interpretation of 

monitoring data to assist in the analysis of flood damages and 

future flood-mitigation efforts in New York prompted the current analysis of Hurricane Sandy under this mission assignment with FEMA. This interpretation was conducted by the 

USGS in cooperation with FEMA.

Purpose and Scope

This report presents the results of an analysis of stormtide impacts from Hurricane Sandy in New York that was done 

as part of the FEMA mission assignment. Specifically, the 

report presents (1) comparisons of peak storm-tide elevations 

to selected historical storms and annual exceedance probabilities; (2) the storm-surge magnitude associated with the peak 

storm tide, and magnitude and timing of the peak storm surge; 

and (3) comparisons of selected maps of inundation extent that 

were derived from differing amounts of available sensor and 

HWM data.

Meteorological History of Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy was the 18th named storm and 10th hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. Sandy developed 

from a low pressure system in the Caribbean Sea. Hurricane 

Sandy was first classified by the National Hurricane Center 

(NHC) as a tropical depression and then as a tropical storm 

south of the island of Jamaica on October 22, 2012. After 

drifting slowly southwest on October 23, on October 24 Sandy 

turned to the north and intensified into a Category 1 hurricane 

on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale (National Hurricane 

Center, 2013b) just before making landfall in Jamaica.

Hurricane Sandy continued to the north, intensified into 

a strong Category 2 hurricane before making landfall in Cuba, 

and then emerged on the north side of Cuba during the morning of October 25. The storm proceeded to drift northwest as a 

Category 1 or 2 hurricane as it moved through the Bahamas on 

October 25 and 26. Hurricane Sandy then began a north-northeast track on October 26 as a Category 1 hurricane (fig. 1). 

This track continued into the evening of October 28, when 

Hurricane Sandy turned to the north. Sandy turned northwest 

on October 29. Hurricane Sandy made landfall near Atlantic 

City, New Jersey, as an extratropical cyclone at 7:30 p.m. 

eastern daylight time on October 29 with a minimum central 

pressure of 945 millibars. The storm moved inland over New 

Jersey and weakened into a remnant trough in western Pennsylvania on October 31.

The unusual north-to-northwest motion of the storm that 

began on October 28 was caused by two factors: (1) an anomalously strong, blocking high-pressure system situated over 

the Canadian Maritimes and (2) an approaching and deepening 

midlatitude trough to the west over the eastern United States. 

These factors caused the storm to curve toward the coast south 

of New York City and Long Island. Hurricane Sandy’s interaction with these two weather systems also caused the storm’s 

transition from a tropical to a post-tropical system, which created an outward expansion of the storm’s wind field. Just prior 

to United States landfall, this wind field or fetch was estimated 

to be about 1,000 miles (mi) wide (fig. 3), making Sandy the 

largest Atlantic Hurricane on record (Blake and others, 2013).

The extremely large fetch of tropical-storm force winds 

circulating around Hurricane Sandy, combined with its 
4 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Introduction 

5

EXPLANATION

Site Type--Number corresponds to map number in tables 1-8

#

Ú

Permanent monitoring site

* Temporary monitoring site

High-water-mark site 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS

0 10 20 5 MILES

0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS

0 5 10 2.5 MILES

ATLANTIC OCEAN

L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d

Hudson River

Area enlarged onfacing page.

L o n g I s l a n d 

#

#

#

#

GREENE

DUTCHESS

ULSTER

COLUMBIA

ALBANY RENSSELAER

Federal Dam at Troy

6

1

14

392

4-5

7-11

2-3

15-17

393-395

12-13

242-244

396-399

18-21

22-26

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

**

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

* *

*

*

*

*

* 350

390

238-240

241

245-249

403-404

405

250

109

NEW JERSEY

CONNECTICUT

52-

53

NEW YORK

SUFFOLK NEW YORK

ROCKLAND

WESTCHESTER

ORANGE

NASSAU

PUTNAM

QUEENS

KINGS RICHMOND

BRONX

28

41

31

40

42

38-39

29

30

37

253

267

264

260

276

278

265

258

266

259

255

256

261

254

262

257

277

251

274

273

275

263

272

252

268

269-271

94-

100

60

67-

73

48

89-

93

47

51

49

88

369

279-280

323

287-

290

291

311

358

372

343 347

346

356

314

283

335

292

386

320-

322

317

379-

380

301

336

370-

371

344

341-

342

326-327

302

307

107

354

313

345

309

381

362-366

391

355 357

351

367

348 282

303

315

102-

103

349

361

387

286

316

305

376

375

388

310

284-285

308

331

359 384

108

338-

340

353

101

337

389

295-299

377-

378

330

306

382-

383

385

293

300

332-334

318-

319

281

304

328-

329

360

294

324-

325

83-

87

50

352

352 368

312

373 374

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

MASS.

CONN.

NEW YORK NEW YORK

NEW JERSEY

NASSAU

QUEENS

KINGS

RICHMOND

BRONX

36

33

34

27

43

35

32

115

111 123-

124

122

125

120

121

117

114

126

119 110

118

116

400

401

402

112

113

78

54

61-66

57

76

74

44

81

80

58

59

56

82

77

45-

46

55 105

106

221

224

151

237

223

150

216

142

154

205

131

210

133

213

231

203

236

235

230

228

225-

227

209

129

144

157

156

155

165-

177

194

218

195

196 197

128

153

217

211

198

135

158 204

234 222 134

159-162

127

199

201-

202

130

148

207

206

208

145-147

220 200

132

149

143

136

152

219

409

410

412

406-408

414

415

411

413

104

214-215

163-164

139

137

138

140-141

185-

193

212

229

232

233

178-

184

79 75

414

EXPLANATION

Site type—Number corresponds to map number in tables 1–8

# Permanent monitoring site

* Temporary monitoring site

High-water -mark site 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS

0 10 20 5 MILES

0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS

0 5 10 2.5 MILES

ATLANTIC OCEAN

L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d

Hudson River

L o n g I s l a n d 

Hudson River

72°W 73°W 74°W

41°30'N

41°N

40°30'N

Area enlarged onfacing page.

72°W 73°W 74°W

42°30'N

42°N

73°45'W 74°W

74°15'W

40°45'N40°30'N

Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection

Figure 2. Locations of permanent and temporary monitoring sites and high-water-mark sites that documented the storm tide of Hurricane Sandy in New York counties. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond.
Wind speed, in 

miles per hour

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

EXPLANATION 45

42.5

40

37.5

35

32.5

30

27.5

25

-80 -77.5 -75 -72.5 -70 -67.5 -65 -62.5 -60

Longitude

Latitude

6 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 7

anomalous track, piled large amounts of ocean water over 

multiple tidal cycles north and west of the center of counterclockwise circulation. This onshore flow was funneled into the 

New York Bight—the large embayment formed by the Atlantic 

coastline of Long Island and northern New Jersey—and inland 

through the many interconnected estuaries, propagating more 

than 100 mi north along the Hudson River to the head-of-tide 

at the Federal Dam in Troy. These are the primary reasons 

why Hurricane Sandy caused historic coastal flooding in 

these areas, producing a storm surge much greater than that 

expected for a Category 1 hurricane taking a more normal 

north-to-northeast track up the Atlantic seaboard.

Winds in the southeastern New York region began to 

increase well in advance of Hurricane Sandy. By the afternoon 

of October 27, as Hurricane Sandy was moving northeast 

along the southeastern United States coast, winds in the region 

began to increase from an east to northeast direction. This was 

primarily due to the pressure gradient between the hurricane 

well to the south and the blocking high to the northeast of 

the region. As the storm approached Cape Hatteras, North 

Carolina, on the afternoon of October 28, winds began to shift 

to a more northeast direction; winds shifted to the northnortheast by the end of the day, as the hurricane continued 

moving northeastward well east of Cape Hatteras. During the 

day on October 29, the storm began its sharp turn towards the 

southern New Jersey coast and transitioned to a post-tropical 

system with winds rapidly increasing over the region and 

shifting back to the northeast. Maximum winds occurred from 

late in the afternoon to around midnight on October 29. As the 

storm approached and then made landfall south of the region, 

the strong winds quickly switched to an easterly direction 

by late afternoon and then to a southeasterly direction just 

after landfall. As the storm continued moving inland through 

southern New Jersey and then into Pennsylvania, strong winds 

from the southeast to south continued for a few hours and then 

gradually decreased during the day on October 30.

Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From 

Hurricane Sandy

The analysis of storm-tide impacts focused on three 

distinct but related aspects of coastal flooding produced by 

Hurricane Sandy—(1) comparisons of peak storm-tide elevations to historical storms and annual exceedance probabilities, 

(2) identification of the storm-surge magnitude associated with 

the peak storm tide, and magnitude and timing of the peak 

storm surge, and (3) comparisons of selected maps of inundation extent that were derived from differing amounts of available sensor and HWM data.

Peak Storm-Tide Elevation

Peak storm-tide elevations at the permanent and temporary 

monitoring sites and HWM sites shown in figure 4 provide a 

comprehensive depiction of the coastal flooding from Hurricane 

Sandy in New York. The data for these sites are also available 

from a USGS interactive storm-tide mapper at http://water.usgs.

gov/floods/events/2012/sandy/sandymapper.html. The stormtide elevations have been affected by wave action to varying 

degrees, depending on the measurement techniques and site 

conditions under which the data were collected. A diagram of 

FEMA coastal flood hazard zones and the manner in which 

wave heights affect base flood elevations (BFEs), particularly 

at locations in VE zones (Federal Emergency Management 

Agency, 2013a) is shown in figure 5. Specifically, these locations are likely to have flooding with wave heights of 3 feet (ft) 

or greater, whereas those in AE zones will have flooding with 

wave heights less than 3 ft.

 As a result, records from permanent and temporary 

monitoring sites in VE zones likely were affected by wave 

heights of 3 ft or greater, the effects of which were removed 

using a 3-minute mean to obtain a peak elevation comparable 

with stillwater elevations; monitoring records from sites in 

other coastal flood hazard zones likely were affected by wave 

heights less than 3 ft and, thus, provide a peak elevation generally comparable with the corresponding stillwater elevations. 

Similarly, HWMs at sites in VE zones likely were affected by 

wave heights of 3 ft or greater and, therefore, are comparable 

only with the BFEs. HWMs at sites in other coastal flood 

hazard zones likely were affected by wave heights less than 

3 ft and, thus, are generally comparable with the corresponding 

stillwater elevations.

Most peak storm-tide elevations from Hurricane Sandy 

(fig. 4) were greater than about 9.5 ft above North American 

Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88); this level was exceeded 

at most of the sites in Albany, Nassau, Rensselaer, and 

Westchester Counties and New York City (Bronx, Kings, 

New York, Queens, and Richmond Counties). In the remaining counties with Hurricane Sandy data—Dutchess, Greene, 

Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, and Ulster, peak storm-tide 

elevations were greater than about 7.2 ft above NAVD 88 

at most sites. The maximum peak storm-tide elevation was 

16.9 ft above NAVD 88 at HWM site HWM–NY–RIC–717 

(map number 230) in New York City. The minimum peak 

storm-tide elevation was 3.5 ft above NAVD 88 at HWM site 

HWM–NY–SUF–638 (map number 373) in Suffolk County. 

Data were not obtained along the east shore of the Hudson 

River in Columbia and Putnam counties; HWMs obtained 

along the west shore in Greene and Orange counties represent 

peak storm-tide elevations in these reaches.

Comparison With Historical Storms

Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy 

were compared with those of historical storms for which data 

on substantial coastal flooding are available. These storms 

include the intense nor’easter of December 11–13, 1992, and 

Hurricane Irene (August 27–28, 2011), which weakened to a 

tropical storm before arriving in New York.

December 1992 Nor’easter

The intense nor’easter that affected the mid-Atlantic 

and northeastern coastline of the United States during 

December 10–14, 1992 (fig. 1), produced east-to-northeast 

winds of gale-force strength (39 to 54 mi/hr) that gusted to 

greater than hurricane strength and caused heavy rain, extensive 

coastal flooding, and severe beach erosion (Schubert and Busciolano, 1994). Severe tidal flooding occurred during the morning of December 11 and continued through the early afternoon 

of December 12 along coastal areas of southeastern New York, 

northern New Jersey, and southern Connecticut. Although peak 

storm-tide levels occurred near the times of normal tidal high 

water during December 11–12, widespread tidal flooding did 

not subside in many coastal areas until December 14.

Peak storm-tide elevations produced by the storm of 

December 11–13, 1992, at 27 HWM sites and peak stormtide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at nearby sites 

in New York are listed in table 1. Calculations of the differences between their peak storm-tide elevations are included 

in table 1, and the differences are depicted in units of feet and 

percent (above the historical storm tide) in figure 6A and 6B, 

respectively. These differences indicate that peak storm-tide 

elevations from Hurricane Sandy were higher than those from 

the December 1992 nor’easter at 24 of 27 sites (89 percent). 

Most differences were greater than about 0.7 ft or 9 percent, 

with most of these from sites along the Atlantic Ocean shores 

of Nassau and Suffolk Counties and New York City. The maximum absolute difference was 4.5 ft at HWM site HWM–NY–

QUE–505 (Hunters Point) in New York City, and the maximum 

relative difference was 110 percent at HWM sites HWM–NY–

SUF–407 (Bay Shore), HWM–NY–SUF–600 (Oakdale), and 

HWM–NY–SUF–620 (Bellport) along the Atlantic Ocean shore 

of Suffolk County. The minimum absolute and relative differences were –0.5 ft and –4 percent, respectively, at HWM site 

HWM–NY–NAS–936 (Bayville) along the Long Island Sound 

shore of Nassau County.

Figure 3. Strength and direction of Hurricane Sandy’s ocean surface winds on October 28, 2012. Wind speeds above 40 miles per hour 

are depicted in yellow, above 50 are in orange, and above 60 are in red; wind directions are indicated by black arrows. Map is modified 

from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (2013) produced with data from a radar scatterometer on the Indian Space 

Research Organization’s Oceansat-2.
8 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 

9

GREENE

DUTCHESS

ULSTER

COLUMBIA

ALBANY RENSSELAER

NEW JERSEY

CONNECTICUT

ROCKLAND

NEW YORK

SUFFOLK NEW YORK

WESTCHESTER

ORANGE

NASSAU

PUTNAM

QUEENS

KINGS RICHMOND

BRONX

NEW YORK

NEW JERSEY

QUEENS

KINGS

RICHMOND

BRONX

EXPLANATION

Peak storm-tide elevation,

 in feet above NAVD 88

12.1 to 19.58.1 to 12.06.1 to 8.04.1 to 6.00.0 to 4.0 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS

0 10 20 5 MILES

0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS

0 5 10 2.5 MILES

ATLANTIC OCEAN

L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d

Hudson River

L o n g I s l a n d

MASS.

CONN.

Hudson River

NEW YORK

72°W 73°W 74°W

41°30'N

41°N

40°30'N

Area enlarged onfacing page

72°W 73°W 74°W

42°30'N

42°N

73°45'W

74°15'W

40°45'N40°30'N

Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection

74°W

Figure 4. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy in New York counties. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond.
10 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 11 Table 1. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by storm of December 11–13, 1992, at 27 high-water-mark sites, and peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at nearby sites in New York. [High-water-mark (HWM) site locations are shown in figure 2. GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988] Hurricane Sandy Storm of December 11–13, 1992 Difference Site Peak storm tide Site Peak storm tide Site location, in miles Peak storm-tide Map no. Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Feet Percent Nassau County 59 HWM–NY–NAS–519 40.82775 -73.65676 10/30/2012 10.4 Port Washington 40.82796 -73.65748 12/11/1992 9.8 0.041 0.6 6 60 HWM–NY–NAS–700 40.88750 -73.56361 10/30/2012 10.2 Mill Neck 40.88741 -73.56318 12/11/1992 9.7 0.023 0.5 5 75 HWM–NY–NAS–910 40.62586 -73.74889 10/30/2012 10.4 Inwood 40.62731 -73.74650 12/11/1992 7.2 0.161 3.2 44 88 HWM–NY–NAS–923 40.85722 -73.46333 10/30/2012 9.7 Cold Spring Harbor 40.85734 -73.46367 12/11/1992 9.5 0.019 0.2 2 90 HWM–NY–NAS–925 40.87199 -73.50356 10/30/2012 10.2 Cove Neck 40.87402 -73.50255 12/11/1992 9.3 0.150 0.9 10 96 HWM–NY–NAS–931 40.91413 -73.52602 10/30/2012 9.8 Centre Island 40.91474 -73.52758 12/11/1992 9.0 0.092 0.8 9 101 HWM–NY–NAS–936 40.90816 -73.58157 10/30/2012 10.4 Bayville 40.90825 -73.58389 12/11/1992 10.8 0.121 -0.4 -4 102 HWM–NY–NAS–938 40.89152 -73.63566 10/30/2012 10.0 Glen Cove 2 40.89046 -73.63409 12/11/1992 10.2 0.110 -0.2 -2 New York City 145 HWM–NY–KIN–900 40.66725 -74.00001 10/30/2012 11.0 Greenwood 40.66713 -73.99991 12/11/1992 7.3 0.008 3.7 51 204 HWM–NY–QUE–505 40.74169 -73.95904 10/30/2012 10.7 Hunters Point 40.74075 -73.95945 12/11/1992 6.2 0.069 4.5 73 214 HWM–NY–QUE–726 40.56779 -73.88247 10/30/2012 10.5 Roxbury 40.56819 -73.88263 12/11/1992 7.8 0.029 2.7 35 232 HWM–NY–RIC–719 40.59386 -74.06829 10/30/2012 12.7 Arrochar 40.59314 -74.06260 12/11/1992 8.9 0.051 3.8 43 Suffolk County 281 HWM–NY–SUF–003 40.93250 -72.61556 10/30/2012 7.2 Aquebogue 40.93255 -72.61545 12/11/1992 7.2 0.006 0.0 0 282 HWM–NY–SUF–005 40.96522 -72.77187 10/29/2012 9.1 Baiting Hollow 40.96524 -72.77184 12/11/1992 8.4 0.002 0.7 8 288 HWM–NY–SUF–304 41.14331 -72.31243 10/29/2012 6.4 Orient 41.14330 -72.31249 12/11/1992 5.4 0.003 1.0 19 299 HWM–NY–SUF–407 40.71159 -73.24435 10/29/2012 6.1 Bay Shore 40.71169 -73.24341 12/11/1992 2.9 0.050 3.2 110 301 HWM–NY–SUF–409 40.90420 -72.61990 10/30/2012 7.7 Flanders 40.90428 -72.62006 12/11/1992 7.5 0.010 0.2 3 302 HWM–NY–SUF–410 40.85040 -72.50380 10/29/2012 6.6 Hampton Bays 1 40.85005 -72.50617 12/11/1992 3.7 0.127 2.9 78 322 HWM–NY–SUF–433 40.95980 -72.39820 10/30/2012 6.5 North Sea 40.95962 -72.39808 12/11/1992 6.3 0.014 0.2 3 329 HWM–NY–SUF–509 40.94574 -73.07198 10/30/2012 8.8 Port Jefferson 40.94489 -73.07146 12/11/1992 8.3 0.065 0.5 6 331 HWM–NY–SUF–511 41.01220 -72.55640 10/30/2012 7.8 Mattituck 41.01283 -72.55873 12/11/1992 7.0 0.129 0.8 11 336 HWM–NY–SUF–517 40.90030 -73.35303 10/30/2012 9.5 Northport 1 40.89908 -73.35296 12/11/1992 9.1 0.084 0.4 4 337 HWM–NY–SUF–600 40.74760 -73.15039 10/29/2012 6.1 Oakdale 40.74759 -73.15049 12/11/1992 2.9 0.005 3.2 110 344 HWM–NY–SUF–607 40.95410 -73.39812 10/30/2012 10.0 Asharoken 40.95401 -73.39813 12/11/1992 9.0 0.007 1.0 11 357 HWM–NY–SUF–620 40.75282 -72.93438 10/29/2012 5.6 Bellport 40.75363 -72.93348 12/11/1992 2.7 0.073 2.9 107 391 HWM–NY–SUF–965 40.63417 -73.34526 10/29/2012 5.2 Gilgo State Park 40.63510 -73.34252 12/11/1992 4.7 0.158 0.5 11 Westchester County 410 HWM–NY–WES–801 40.89064 -73.78236 10/30/2012 10.2 New Rochelle 40.89094 -73.78416 12/11/1992 10.1 0.096 0.1 1

Figure 5. Federal Emergency Management Agency coastal flood hazard zones and effects of wave heights on base flood 

elevations (BFEs), particularly at locations in the VE zone; from Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2013a. VE zone is the 

area subject to high velocity wave action (a 3-foot breaking wave) from the 1-percent annual chance coastal flood. AE zone is the 

area subject to inundation from the 1-percent annual chance flood; these areas are not subject to high velocity wave action but are 

still considered high risk flooding areas. X zone is the area of moderate coastal flood risk outside the regulatory 1-percent annual 

chance flood up to the 0.2-percent annual chance flood level. LiMWA, limit of moderate wave action; NFIP, National Flood Insurance 

Program; SFHA, special flood hazard area.
12 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 13 GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER # # # # # # # # # NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT ROCKLAND NEW YORK SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX # # # # # NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Difference in peak storm-tide elevation, in feet # 3.76 to 5.00 # 2.51 to 3.75 # 1.26 to 2.50 0.01 to 1.25 -0.40 to 0.00 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d MASS. CONN. Hudson River NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W AFigure 6. A, Differences in feet between peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy and the storm of December 11–13, 1992, in New York. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond.
14 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 15 GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT ROCKLAND NEW YORK SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX # # # # # # # NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Difference in peak storm-tide elevation, in percent 90.1 to 110.0 # 60.1 to 90.0 # 30.1 to 60.0 # 0.1 to 30.0 -4.0 to 0.0 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d MASS. CONN. Hudson River NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W BFigure 6. B, Differences in percent between peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy and the storm of December 11–13, 1992, in New York. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond.—Continued.
16 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 17 Table 2. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy, Tropical Storm Irene, and historical peak water-level elevations, dates of occurrence, and periods of record at 19 permanent monitoring sites in New York. [Permanent monitoring site locations are shown in figure 2. Peak storm-tide records for Tropical Storm Irene at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sites from Fanelli and Fanelli, 2011; records for Hurricane Sandy at NOAA sites from Fanelli and others, 2013. Historical peak water-level records and periods of record at NOAA sites from National Ocean Service, 2013. GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988] Hurricane Sandy Tropical Storm Irene peak storm tide Difference in peak storm- tide elevation Historical peak water level Period of record Site Peak storm tide Map no. Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Feet Percent Estimated date Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Dutchess County 6 01372058 41.65093 -73.94458 10/30/2012 8.66 8/28/2011 7.08 1.58 22 8/28/2011 7.08 1992–2013 Nassau County 27 01302250 40.86622 -73.71019 10/30/2012 10.31 8/28/2011 8.39 1.92 23 3/15/2010 8.50 2007–2013 28 01302600 40.88856 -73.63800 10/30/2012 9.87 8/28/2011 8.21 1.66 20 8/28/2011 8.21 2009–2013 29 01302845 40.90511 -73.59319 10/30/2012 10.06 8/28/2011 8.04 2.02 25 8/28/2011 8.04 2007–2013 60 1,201303000 40.88750 -73.56361 10/30/2012 10.2 8/28/2011 8.4 1.8 21 9/21/1938 10.26 1937–2000, 2005–2012 88 301303500 40.85722 -73.46333 10/30/2012 9.7 8/28/2011 9.14 0.6 7 8/31/1954 9.67 1950–2013 30 01310521 40.62760 -73.57541 10/30/2012 8.98 8/28/2011 6.22 2.76 44 8/28/2011 6.22 1999–2013 31 01310740 40.59344 -73.58374 10/30/2012 8.97 8/28/2011 5.94 3.03 51 8/28/2011 5.94 1997–2013 32 01311143 40.60883 -73.65611 10/30/2012 9.77 8/28/2011 6.63 3.14 47 8/28/2011 6.63 2010–2013 33 01311145 40.59316 -73.73735 10/30/2012 9.70 8/28/2011 6.33 3.37 53 8/28/2011 6.33 2002–2013 35 01311850 40.61733 -73.75791 10/30/2012 10.55 8/28/2011 6.42 4.13 64 8/28/2011 6.42 2002–2013 New York City 110 01302050 40.75583 -73.74583 10/30/2012 9.69 8/28/2011 9.46 0.23 2 10/19/1996 10.35 1993–2013 111 01311875 40.57372 -73.88514 10/30/2012 10.65 8/28/2011 6.48 4.17 64 8/28/2011 6.48 2002–2013 114 8518750–NOAA 40.70000 -74.01333 10/30/2012 11.28 8/28/2011 6.72 4.56 68 12/11/1992 6.93 1920–2013 Orange County 241 401374019 41.38620 -73.95510 10/30/2012 8.6 8/28/2011 6.69 1.9 28 8/28/2011 6.69 1991–2013 Rockland County 250 501376269 41.04319 -73.89610 10/30/2012 9.7 8/28/2011 6.56 3.1 47 8/28/2011 6.56 2010–2013 Suffolk County 251 01304057 40.96286 -73.14317 10/30/2012 9.35 8/28/2011 7.81 1.54 20 8/28/2011 7.81 2007–2013 255 01309225 40.66927 -73.35568 10/30/2012 6.54 8/28/2011 4.08 2.46 60 8/28/2011 4.08 2002–2013 256 8510560–NOAA 41.04833 -71.96000 10/30/2012 5.55 8/28/2011 4.08 1.47 36 8/31/1954 6.87 1947–2013 1Permanent monitoring site 01303000 was discontinued in February 2011; peak elevation for Hurricane Sandy uses value from high-water-mark site HWM–NY–NAS–700 at same location. 2Permanent monitoring site 01303000 was discontinued in February 2011; peak elevation for Tropical Storm Irene uses value from high-water-mark site HWM–NY–NAS–003 at same location. 3Measurement limit at permanent monitoring site 01303500 was exceeded during Hurricane Sandy; peak elevation for this storm uses value from high-water-mark site HWM–NY–NAS–923 at same location. 4Measurement limit at permanent monitoring site 01374019 was exceeded during Hurricane Sandy; peak elevation for this storm uses value from high-water-mark site HWM–NY–ORA–004 at same location. 5Measurement limit at permanent monitoring site 01376269 was exceeded during Hurricane Sandy; peak elevation for this storm uses value from high-water-mark site HWM–NY–ROC–006 at same location.

Tropical Storm Irene

Tropical Storm Irene initially made landfall as a Cat-

egory 1 hurricane on the North Carolina coast near Beaufort 

on August 27, 2011 (fig. 1); after traversing the coast and 

Outer Banks of North Carolina, the storm went back out to 

sea and made a second landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near 

Atlantic City, New Jersey, on August 28 (McCallum and oth-

ers, 2012). The resulting storm tide reached National Weather 

Service moderate to major flood thresholds in coastal areas 

of Long Island and New York City as Irene crossed western 

Long Island on August 28 as a tropical storm (Busciolano and 

Schubert, 2012).

Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane 

Sandy and Tropical Storm Irene at 19 permanent monitoring 

sites, 23 temporary monitoring sites, and 10 HWM sites in 

New York are given in tables 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The 

data in tables 2 through 4 include the differences between 

their peak storm-tide elevations for the two storms; differ-

ences in elevations are depicted in units of feet and percent 

in figure 7A and 7B, respectively. These differences indicate 

that peak storm-tide elevations from Hurricane Sandy were 

higher than those from Tropical Storm Irene at all sites. Most 

differences were greater than about 2.5 ft or 48 percent, with 

most of these from sites along the Atlantic Ocean shores of 

Nassau and Suffolk Counties, in New York City, and in Rock-

land County. The maximum absolute difference was 6.5 ft at 

HWM site HWM–NY–RIC–719 (005–CNY–01–006) in New 

York City (table 4), and the maximum relative difference was 

111 percent at HWM site HWM–NY–KIN–908 (005–CNY–

02–003), also in New York City. The minimum absolute and 

relative differences were 0.14 ft and 1.7 percent, respectively, 

at temporary monitoring site SSS–NY–SUF–002WL (table 3) 

along the Long Island Sound shore of Suffolk County.

Historical Peak Water-Level Elevations

Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy, 

historical peak water-level elevations, estimated dates of occur-

rence, and periods of record at 19 permanent monitoring sites 

in New York are presented in table 2. Of the 19 permanent 

monitoring sites, the peak storm-tide elevation from Hurricane 

Sandy exceeded the historical peak water-level elevation at 

16 sites (84 percent) and was very close to the historical peak at 

1 site (5 percent). One of the two sites where the historical peak 

was greater than the peak from Hurricane Sandy—USGS site 

01302050—is a streamgage in New York City that histori-

cally may have been affected by high streamflow. The other 

site—NOAA site 8510560—is a tide gage in Suffolk County 

near the extreme eastern tip of Long Island, where the stormtide impacts from Hurricane Sandy were less than those at sites 

farther westward. The one site where the peak from Hurricane 

Sandy was very close to, but did not exceed, the historical 

peak—USGS streamgage 01303000—is along the Long Island 

Sound shore of Nassau County. This historical peak is from the 

unnamed, major hurricane of September 21, 1938; however, it 

was only 0.06 ft higher than the peak from Hurricane Sandy.

Comparison With Annual Exceedance 

Probabilities

Peak storm-tide elevations at the permanent and tempo-

rary monitoring sites and the HWM sites were compared with 

the corresponding FEMA flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, 

and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, 

and 500-year recurrence intervals). The comparison relied on 

stillwater flood elevations, and on coastal flood hazard zones and 

base flood elevations, which were generally derived from the 

most recently published FEMA Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and 

Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) products, respectively, that 

were in effect for New York localities affected by the storm tide 

of Hurricane Sandy. One exception to this was in New York City, 

where the comparison relied primarily on coastal flood hazard 

zones and flood elevations derived from preliminary work map 

data (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2013e), which 

represent the best available information at the time of this study. 

A comparison of peak storm-tide elevations to annual exceedance 

probabilities for New York City was also performed using the 

most recently published FEMA FIS and FIRM products for this 

locality; the data are listed in tables 5 through 7. However, this 

comparison with legacy products is not discussed in the text or 

shown in the figures.

Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy 

and the corresponding FEMA flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, 

and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, 

and 500-year recurrence intervals) at 24 permanent monitoring 

sites, 43 temporary monitoring sites, and 346 HWM sites in New 

York are listed in tables 5, 6, and 7, respectively. The compari-

sons between Hurricane Sandy peak storm-tide elevations and 

FEMA flood elevations for sites in tables 5 through 7 also include 

the annual exceedance probabilities (and recurrence intervals) for 

these sites; annual exceedance probabilities are shown in figure 8. 

These comparisons indicate that peak storm-tide elevations from 

Hurricane Sandy had annual exceedance probabilities of less than 

or equal to 1 percent and (or) greater than 0.2 percent (recurrence 

intervals greater than or equal to 100 years and (or) less than 

500 years) at a plurality of sites—184 of 413 (45 percent).

Most of the peak storm-tide elevations greater than or equal 

to the FEMA 1-percent (100-year) flood elevation and (or) less 

than the 0.2-percent (500-year) flood elevation were from sites in 

Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, and Ulster Coun-

ties; New York City; and along the Hudson River shore of West-

chester County (fig. 8). Peak storm-tide elevations associated 

with the minimum annual exceedance probabilities (maximum 

recurrence intervals)—elevations higher than or equal to the 

FEMA 0.2-percent (500-year) flood elevation—accounted for 

81 of 413 sites (20 percent); most of these were along the Atlantic 

Ocean shores of Nassau and western Suffolk Counties, in Orange 

and Rockland Counties, and along the Hudson River shore of 

Westchester County. Peak storm-tide elevations associated with 

the maximum annual exceedance probability (minimum recurrence interval)—elevations lower than the FEMA 10-percent 

(10-year) flood elevation—accounted for only 10 of 413 sites 

(2 percent); most of these were in Albany and Rensselaer Counties.
18 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 19 Table 3. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy and Tropical Storm Irene at 23 temporary monitoring sites in New York. [Temporary monitoring site locations are shown in figure 2. GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988] Hurricane Sandy Tropical Storm Irene Difference Site Peak storm tide Site Peak storm tide Site location, in miles Peak storm-tide elevation Map no. Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees 1Coastal flood hazard zone Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees 1Coastal flood hazard zone Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Feet Percent 2Nassau County 37 SSS–NY–NAS–001WL 40.87791 -73.53057 VE 10/30/2012 10.09 SSS–NY–NAS–001WL 40.87791 -73.53057 VE 8/28/2011 8.19 0.000 1.90 23 38 SSS–NY–NAS–004WL 40.58275 -73.64068 VE 10/30/2012 11.69 SSS–NY–NAS–004WL 40.58275 -73.64068 VE 8/28/2011 7.73 0.000 3.96 51 2,3New York City 116 SSS–NY–KIN–001WL 40.58000 -74.01161 VE 10/30/2012 11.57 SSS–NY–KIN–001WL 40.58000 -74.01161 VE 8/28/2011 6.83 0.000 4.74 69 119 SSS–NY–QUE–001WL 40.76229 -73.85828 AE 10/30/2012 10.35 SSS–NY–QUE–001WL 40.76229 -73.85828 AE 8/28/2011 8.03 0.000 2.32 29 120 SSS–NY–QUE–002WL 40.64533 -73.83638 VE 10/30/2012 10.84 SSS–NY–QUE–002WL 40.64533 -73.83638 VE 8/28/2011 6.79 0.000 4.05 60 123 SSS–NY–RIC–001WL 40.59388 -74.05985 VE 10/30/2012 12.43 SSS–NY–RIC–001WL 40.59388 -74.05985 VE 8/28/2011 7.33 0.000 5.10 70 125 SSS–NY–RIC–003WL 40.50188 -74.23034 VE 10/30/2012 13.81 SSS–NY–RIC–003WL 40.50188 -74.23034 VE 8/28/2011 7.35 0.000 6.46 88 4New York City 116 SSS–NY–KIN–001WL 40.58000 -74.01161 VE 10/30/2012 11.57 SSS–NY–KIN–001WL 40.58000 -74.01161 VE 8/28/2011 6.83 0.000 4.74 69 119 SSS–NY–QUE–001WL 40.76229 -73.85828 VE 10/30/2012 10.32 SSS–NY–QUE–001WL 40.76229 -73.85828 VE 8/28/2011 8.02 0.000 2.30 29 120 SSS–NY–QUE–002WL 40.64533 -73.83638 VE 10/30/2012 10.84 SSS–NY–QUE–002WL 40.64533 -73.83638 VE 8/28/2011 6.79 0.000 4.05 60 123 SSS–NY–RIC–001WL 40.59388 -74.05985 VE 10/30/2012 12.43 SSS–NY–RIC–001WL 40.59388 -74.05985 VE 8/28/2011 7.33 0.000 5.10 70 125 SSS–NY–RIC–003WL 40.50188 -74.23034 VE 10/30/2012 13.81 SSS–NY–RIC–003WL 40.50188 -74.23034 VE 8/28/2011 7.35 0.000 6.46 88 2Suffolk County 257 5403836073154775 40.64333 -73.26306 AE 10/30/2012 5.16 403836073154801 40.64328 -73.26334 AE 8/28/2011 3.43 0.015 1.73 50 258 SSS–NY–SUF–001WL 41.01259 -72.55828 AE 10/30/2012 7.86 SSS–NY–SUF–001WL 41.01259 -72.55828 AE 8/28/2011 6.94 0.000 0.92 13 259 SSS–NY–SUF–002WL 40.96438 -72.86320 AE 10/30/2012 8.19 SSS–NY–SUF–002WL 40.96438 -72.86320 AE 8/28/2011 8.05 0.000 0.14 2 260 SSS–NY–SUF–003WL 40.94617 -73.07227 VE 10/30/2012 8.79 SSS–NY–SUF–003WL 40.94617 -73.07227 VE 8/28/2011 7.50 0.000 1.29 17 261 SSS–NY–SUF–004WL 40.78712 -72.75025 VE 10/30/2012 6.41 SSS–NY–SUF–004WL 40.78712 -72.75025 VE 8/28/2011 4.82 0.000 1.59 33 262 SSS–NY–SUF–005WL 40.91608 -72.63774 VE 10/29/2012 7.73 SSS–NY–SUF–005WL 40.91608 -72.63774 VE 8/28/2011 4.08 0.000 3.65 89 263 SSS–NY–SUF–006WL 40.84887 -72.50285 VE 10/30/2012 6.88 SSS–NY–SUF–006WL 40.84887 -72.50285 VE 8/28/2011 5.59 0.000 1.29 23 264 SSS–NY–SUF–008WL 40.89331 -72.50300 AE 10/30/2012 6.53 SSS–NY–SUF–008WL 40.89331 -72.50300 AE 8/28/2011 3.94 0.000 2.59 66 265 SSS–NY–SUF–009WL 41.00197 -72.29030 VE 10/30/2012 6.28 SSS–NY–SUF–009WL 41.00197 -72.29030 VE 8/28/2011 3.69 0.000 2.59 70 266 SSS–NY–SUF–011WL 40.90048 -73.35304 VE 10/30/2012 9.46 SSS–NY–SUF–011WL 40.90048 -73.35304 VE 8/28/2011 8.07 0.000 1.39 17 267 SSS–NY–SUF–014WL 40.99070 -72.47074 VE 10/30/2012 6.88 SSS–NY–SUF–014WL 40.99070 -72.47074 VE 8/28/2011 4.61 0.000 2.27 49 268 SSS–NY–SUF–015WL 41.10104 -72.36144 VE 10/30/2012 6.37 SSS–NY–SUF–015WL 41.10104 -72.36144 VE 8/28/2011 4.29 0.000 2.08 48 269 SSS–NY–SUF–017WL 40.64316 -73.15750 VE 10/30/2012 10.60 SSS–NY–SUF–017WL 40.64316 -73.15750 VE 8/28/2011 7.21 0.000 3.39 47 272 SSS–NY–SUF–019WL 40.65932 -73.26486 VE 10/30/2012 5.29 SSS–NY–SUF–019WL 40.65932 -73.26486 VE 8/28/2011 3.08 0.000 2.21 72 273 SSS–NY–SUF–021WL 40.74918 -73.01338 VE 10/30/2012 6.07 SSS–NY–SUF–021WL 40.74918 -73.01338 VE 8/28/2011 3.96 0.000 2.11 53 274 SSS–NY–SUF–022WL 40.68523 -73.27990 VE 10/30/2012 6.38 SSS–NY–SUF–022WL 40.68523 -73.27990 VE 8/28/2011 3.86 0.000 2.52 65 1Records from temporary monitoring sites in VE zones are likely to have been affected by wave heights of 3 feet or greater, the effects of which were removed using a 3-minute running mean to obtain a peak elevation comparable to stillwater elevations; monitoring records from sites in other coastal flood hazard zones will have been affected by wave heights less than 3 feet and, thus, provide a peak elevation gener- ally comparable to the corresponding stillwater elevations. 2Coastal flood hazard zones from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b). 3Results not discussed in text or shown in figures. 4Coastal flood hazard zones from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013e). 5Temporary monitoring site 403836073154801 was not reoccupied during Hurricane Sandy; peak elevation for this storm uses value from temporary monitoring site 403836073154775 at nearby location. Table 4. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Tropical Storm Irene at 10 high-water-mark sites, and peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at nearby sites in New York. [High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. High-water marks that documented the storm tide of Tropical Storm Irene were collected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988] Hurricane Sandy Tropical Storm Irene Difference Site Peak storm tide Site Peak storm tide Site location, in miles Peak storm-tide elevation Map no. Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Feet Percent 140 HWM–NY–KIN–604 40.70400 -73.98944 10/30/2012 11.0 005–CNY–03–012 40.70453 -73.98950 8/28–29/2011 8.0 0.037 3.0 38 148 HWM–NY–KIN–903 40.61089 -74.03629 10/30/2012 12.9 005–CNY–03–009 40.61060 -74.03650 8/28–29/2011 8.5 0.023 4.4 52 149 HWM–NY–KIN–904 40.59519 -74.00007 10/30/2012 11.5 005–CNY–03–007 40.59414 -74.00169 8/28–29/2011 9.6 0.112 1.9 20 152 HWM–NY–KIN–908 40.60743 -73.89626 10/30/2012 11.2 005–CNY–02–003 40.60536 -73.89844 8/28–29/2011 5.3 0.183 5.9 111 213 HWM–NY–QUE–714 40.60587 -73.82204 10/29/2012 10.3 005–CNY–02–006 40.60524 -73.82235 8/28–29/2011 6.0 0.046 4.3 72 220 HWM–NY–QUE–732 40.59512 -73.74139 10/30/2012 9.0 005–CNY–02–020 40.59514 -73.74402 8/28–29/2011 6.9 0.138 2.1 30 222 HWM–NY–QUE–910 40.63739 -73.74588 10/30/2012 10.6 005–CNY–02–019 40.63697 -73.74214 8/28–29/2011 6.7 0.199 3.9 58 232 HWM–NY–RIC–719 40.59386 -74.06829 10/30/2012 12.7 005–CNY–01–004 40.59407 -74.06039 8/28–29/2011 9.0 0.129 3.7 41 232 HWM–NY–RIC–719 40.59386 -74.06829 10/30/2012 12.7 005–CNY–01–005 40.59432 -74.06004 8/28–29/2011 8.9 0.150 3.8 43 232 HWM–NY–RIC–719 40.59386 -74.06829 10/30/2012 12.7 005–CNY–01–006 40.59416 -74.05983 8/28–29/2011 6.2 0.159 6.5 105
20 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 21 GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT ROCKLAND NEW YORK SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Difference in peak storm-tide elevation, in feet 4.81 to 6.50 3.21 to 4.80 1.61 to 3.20 0.00 to 1.60 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d MASS. CONN. Hudson River NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W AFigure 7. A, Differences in feet between peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy and Tropical Storm Irene in New York. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond.
22 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 23 GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT ROCKLAND NEW YORK SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Difference in peak storm-tide elevation, in percent 90.1 to 111.0 60.1 to 90.0 30.1 to 60.0 0.0 to 30.0 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d MASS. CONN. Hudson River NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W BFigure 7. B, Differences in percent between peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy and Tropical Storm Irene in New York. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond.—Continued.
24 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 25 Table 5. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 24 permanent monitoring sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued. [Permanent monitoring site locations are shown in figure 2. Peak storm-tide records for Hurricane Sandy at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sites from Fanelli and others, 2013. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value] Site FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), in feet above NAVD 88 1-percent (100-year) base flood elevation Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide Map no. Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees 1Coastal flood hazard zone Stillwater flood elevation Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Recurrence interval, in years Annual exceedance probability, in percent 10 percent (10 year) 2 percent (50 year) 1 percent (100 year) 0.2 percent (500 year) 2,3Albany County 1 01359139 42.64611 -73.74750 A12 10.2 13.8 15.6 19.6 20.2 10/30/2012 10.57 10 10 4,5Dutchess County 6 01372058 41.65093 -73.94458 AE 5.9 7.1 8.0 9.7 8 10/30/2012 8.66 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 6,7Greene County 14 01362090 42.22417 -73.88089 AE 6.3 8.0 8.6 10.9 21 10/30/2012 9.80 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 5,8Nassau County 27 1501302250 40.86622 -73.71019 AE 7.3 9.9 12.8 13.5 13 10/30/2012 10.31 60 1.7 28 1501302600 40.88856 -73.63800 AE 6.7 8.9 11.4 13.0 13 10/30/2012 9.87 70 1.4 29 01302845 40.90511 -73.59319 VE 6.3 8.7 9.7 12.1 12 10/30/2012 10.06 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 30 01310521 40.62760 -73.57541 AE 6.4 7.5 7.9 8.6 10 10/30/2012 8.98 >500 <0.2 31 01310740 40.59344 -73.58374 AE 6.4 7.5 7.9 8.6 9 10/30/2012 8.97 >500 <0.2 32 01311143 40.60883 -73.65611 AE 6.7 8.0 8.4 9.1 9 10/30/2012 9.77 >500 <0.2 33 01311145 40.59316 -73.73735 AE 6.7 8.6 9.6 11.3 10 10/30/2012 9.70 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 34 601311500 40.66361 -73.70444 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 15 10/30/2012 9.33 >500 <0.2 35 01311850 40.61733 -73.75791 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 11 10/30/2012 10.55 >500 <0.2 9,10,11New York City 110 01302050 40.75583 -73.74583 X -- -- -- 15.6 -- 10/30/2012 9.69 <500 >0.2 111 01311875 40.57372 -73.88514 -- 5.5 7.0 7.8 9.9 -- 10/30/2012 10.65 >500 <0.2 112 01376534 40.57372 -74.14131 AE 5.4 6.9 7.5 9.3 -- 10/30/2012 11.82 >500 <0.2 113 01376558 40.52542 -74.20939 AE 6.7 8.4 9.2 11.3 -- 10/30/2012 12.76 >500 <0.2 114 8518750–NOAA 40.70000 -74.01333 VE 6.4 7.9 8.6 10.8 12.9 10/30/2012 11.28 >500 <0.2 12New York City 110 01302050 40.75583 -73.74583 AE 9.3 11.5 12.5 14.2 13 10/30/2012 9.69 20 5.0 111 01311875 40.57372 -73.88514 -- 6.6 9.0 10.0 12.6 -- 10/30/2012 10.65 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 112 01376534 40.57372 -74.14131 X -- -- -- 13.8 -- 10/30/2012 11.82 <500 >0.2 113 01376558 40.52542 -74.20939 X -- -- -- 16.2 -- 10/30/2012 12.76 <500 >0.2 114 8518750–NOAA 40.70000 -74.01333 VE 6.9 9.9 11.3 14.9 15 10/30/2012 11.28 100 1.0 1Records from permanent monitoring sites in VE zones are likely to have been affected by wave heights of 3 feet (ft) or greater, the effects of which were removed using a 3-minute mean to obtain a peak elevation comparable to stillwater elevations; monitoring records from sites in other coastal flood hazard zones will have been affected by wave heights less than 3 ft and, thus, provide a peak elevation gener- ally comparable to the corresponding stillwater elevations. 2Stillwater flood elevations converted from units of feet above NGVD 29 as reported in Federal Emergency Management Agency (1979, 1989). 3Coastal flood hazard zones from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013c); base flood elevations converted from units of feet above National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) as reported in Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013c). 4Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2012). 5Coastal flood hazard zones and base flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b). 6Coastal flood hazard zones and base flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013c). 7Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2008). 8Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2009a). 9Stillwater flood elevations converted from units of feet above NGVD 29 as reported in Federal Emergency Management Agency (2007a). 10Coastal flood hazard zones from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b); base flood elevations converted from units of feet above NGVD 29 as reported in Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b). 11Results not discussed in text or shown in figures. 12Coastal flood hazard zones and flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013e). 13Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2009c). 14Stillwater flood elevation for 1-percent annual exceedance probability (100-year recurrence interval) includes wave setup. 15Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2011). Table 5. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 24 permanent monitoring sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued. [Permanent monitoring site locations are shown in figure 2. Peak storm-tide records for Hurricane Sandy at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sites from Fanelli and others, 2013. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value] Site FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), in feet above NAVD 88 1-percent (100-year) base flood elevation Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide Map no. Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees 1Coastal flood hazard zone Stillwater flood elevation Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Recurrence interval, in years Annual exceedance probability, in percent 10 percent (10 year) 2 percent (50 year) 1 percent (100 year) 0.2 percent (500 year) 5,13Suffolk County 251 01304057 40.96286 -73.14317 AE 6.9 8.3 8.7 10.3 11 10/30/2012 9.35 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 252 01304200 41.13664 -72.30675 VE 4.2 5.4 5.8 6.7 9 10/30/2012 6.43 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 253 01304500 40.91361 -72.68667 X -- -- -- 9.6 -- 10/30/2012 6.76 <500 >0.2 254 01304562 40.91778 -72.63867 VE 4.8 6.1 6.5 9.6 9 10/29/2012 7.65 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 255 01309225 40.66927 -73.35568 VE 4.4 5.0 5.3 5.8 8 10/30/2012 6.54 >500 <0.2 256 148510560–NOAA 41.04833 -71.96000 VE 3.5 4.9 8.7 7.2 13 10/30/2012 5.55 60 1.7 6,15Ulster County 392 01372007 41.91814 -73.98172 AE 6.0 7.5 8.9 10.4 8 10/30/2012 13.50 >500 <0.2
26 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 27 Table 6. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 43 temporary monitoring sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued [Temporary monitoring site locations are shown in figure 2. no., number; FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; >, greater than; <, less than; &, and; --, no value] Site FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), feet above NAVD 88 1-percent (100-year) base flood elevation Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide Map no. Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees 1Coastal flood hazard zone Stillwater flood elevation Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Recurrence interval, in years Annual exceedance probability, in percent 10 percent (10 year) 2 percent (50 year) 1 percent (100 year) 0.2 percent (500 year) 2,3Nassau County 37 10SSS–NY–NAS–001WL 40.87791 -73.53057 VE 6.3 8.7 9.9 12.0 13 10/30/2012 10.09 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 38 10SSS–NY–NAS–004WL 40.58275 -73.64068 VE 6.7 8.9 13.8 12.4 19 10/30/2012 11.69 80 1.3 39 10SSS-NY-NAS-004WV 40.58275 -73.64068 VE 6.7 8.9 13.8 12.4 19 10/29/2012 9.91 60 1.7 40 SSS–NY–NAS–005WL 40.65238 -73.45850 AE 5.2 6.2 6.5 7.2 7 10/30/2012 7.98 >500 <0.2 41 SSS–NY–NAS–006WL 40.88750 -73.56361 AE 6.3 8.7 9.4 12.0 11 10/30/2012 10.22 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 42 10SSS–NY–NAS–007WL 40.85722 -73.46333 AE 6.3 8.7 10.4 12.0 10 10/30/2012 9.98 90 1.1 43 10SSS–NY–NAS–008WL 40.86622 -73.71019 AE 7.3 9.9 12.8 13.5 13 10/30/2012 10.29 60 1.7 4,5,6New York City 116 SSS–NY–KIN–001WL 40.58000 -74.01161 VE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 11.9 10/30/2012 11.57 >500 <0.2 117 SSS–NY–KIN–003WL 40.67688 -73.98984 AE 6.3 7.8 8.6 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 11.08 >500 <0.2 118 SSS–NY–NEW–001WL 40.87757 -73.92633 AE 6.1 7.6 8.4 10.7 8.0 10/30/2012 9.50 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 119 SSS–NY–QUE–001WL 40.76229 -73.85828 AE 8.1 10.2 11.4 14.5 12.9 10/30/2012 10.35 60 1.7 120 SSS–NY–QUE–002WL 40.64533 -73.83638 VE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 8.9 10/30/2012 10.84 >500 <0.2 121 SSS–NY–QUE–004WL 40.79651 -73.82879 VE 8.6 10.9 12.1 15.1 14.9 10/30/2012 10.50 40 2.5 122 SSS–NY–QUE–005WL 40.60615 -73.82265 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 7.9 10/30/2012 10.38 >500 <0.2 123 SSS–NY–RIC–001WL 40.59388 -74.05985 VE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 12.9 10/30/2012 12.43 >500 <0.2 124 SSS–NY–RIC–001WV 40.59388 -74.05985 VE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 12.9 10/30/2012 11.11 >500 <0.2 125 SSS–NY–RIC–003WL 40.50188 -74.23034 VE 6.7 8.4 9.2 11.3 13.0 10/30/2012 13.81 >500 <0.2 126 SSS–NY–RIC–004WL 40.54345 -74.12768 VE 6.4 8.0 8.8 10.9 12.9 10/30/2012 13.17 >500 <0.2 7New York City 116 SSS–NY–KIN–001WL 40.58000 -74.01161 VE 7.1 9.9 11.2 14.5 17 10/30/2012 11.57 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 117 SSS–NY–KIN–003WL 40.67688 -73.98984 AE 6.6 8.8 10.3 14.0 10 10/30/2012 11.08 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 118 SSS–NY–NEW–001WL 40.87757 -73.92633 VE 5.6 8.2 9.3 12.7 13 10/30/2012 9.41 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 119 SSS–NY–QUE–001WL 40.76229 -73.85828 VE 9.7 12.1 13.1 15.1 15 10/30/2012 10.32 20 5.0 120 SSS–NY–QUE–002WL 40.64533 -73.83638 VE 6.4 8.8 9.9 12.5 14 10/30/2012 10.84 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 121 SSS–NY–QUE–004WL 40.79651 -73.82879 VE 9.7 11.9 12.8 14.7 16 10/30/2012 10.50 30 3.3 122 SSS–NY–QUE–005WL 40.60615 -73.82265 VE 6.3 8.7 9.7 12.0 13 10/30/2012 10.37 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 123 SSS–NY–RIC–001WL 40.59388 -74.05985 VE 7.1 10.1 11.4 14.8 17 10/30/2012 12.43 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 124 SSS–NY–RIC–001WV 40.59388 -74.05985 VE 7.1 10.1 11.4 14.8 17 10/30/2012 11.11 90 1.1 125 SSS–NY–RIC–003WL 40.50188 -74.23034 VE 8.1 11.3 12.7 16.3 16 10/30/2012 13.81 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 126 SSS–NY–RIC–004WL 40.54345 -74.12768 AE 7.4 10.5 12.0 15.7 14 10/30/2012 13.22 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3,8Suffolk County 257 403836073154775 40.64333 -73.26306 AE 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.8 5 10/30/2012 5.16 >500 <0.2 258 10SSS–NY–SUF–001WL 41.01259 -72.55828 AE 6.2 7.5 10.8 9.4 12 10/30/2012 7.86 60 1.7 259 10SSS–NY–SUF–002WL 40.96438 -72.86320 AE 5.9 7.4 10.5 10.8 12 10/30/2012 8.19 60 1.7 259 10SSS–NY–SUF–002WL 40.96438 -72.86320 AE 5.9 7.4 10.5 10.8 12 10/30/2012 8.19 60 1.7 Table 6. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 43 temporary monitoring sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued [Temporary monitoring site locations are shown in figure 2. no., number; FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; >, greater than; <, less than; &, and; --, no value] Site FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), feet above NAVD 88 1-percent (100-year) base flood elevation Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide Map no. Identifier Latitude, in decimal degrees Longitude, in decimal degrees 1Coastal flood hazard zone Stillwater flood elevation Estimated date (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Recurrence interval, in years Annual exceedance probability, in percent 10 percent (10 year) 2 percent (50 year) 1 percent (100 year) 0.2 percent (500 year) 3,8Suffolk County—Continued 260 SSS–NY–SUF–003WL 40.94617 -73.07227 VE 6.8 7.7 8.2 9.0 13 10/30/2012 8.79 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 261 SSS–NY–SUF–004WL 40.78712 -72.75025 VE 5.0 6.2 6.8 7.8 10 10/30/2012 6.41 70 1.4 262 SSS–NY–SUF–005WL 40.91608 -72.63774 VE 4.8 6.1 6.5 9.6 9 10/29/2012 7.73 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 263 SSS–NY–SUF–006WL 40.84887 -72.50285 VE 5.5 7.1 8.0 9.3 12 10/30/2012 6.88 40 2.5 264 SSS–NY–SUF–008WL 40.89331 -72.50300 AE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 7 10/30/2012 6.53 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 265 SSS–NY–SUF–009WL 41.00197 -72.29030 VE 5.2 6.2 6.5 9.8 9 10/30/2012 6.28 60 1.7 266 SSS–NY–SUF–011WL 40.90048 -73.35304 VE 7.1 8.2 8.9 10.5 12 10/30/2012 9.46 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 267 SSS–NY–SUF–014WL 40.99070 -72.47074 VE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 8 10/30/2012 6.88 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 268 SSS–NY–SUF–015WL 41.10104 -72.36144 VE 4.2 5.4 5.8 6.7 9 10/30/2012 6.37 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 269 10SSS–NY–SUF–017WL 40.64316 -73.15750 VE 6.5 8.5 14.1 11.5 22 10/30/2012 10.60 70 1.4 270 10SSS–NY–SUF–017WV 40.64316 -73.15750 VE 6.5 8.5 14.1 11.5 22 10/29/2012 10.34 70 1.4 271 10SSS–NY–SUF–018WL 40.63473 -73.20216 AE 4.3 4.8 8.0 5.2 10 10/30/2012 4.09 <10 >10 272 SSS–NY–SUF–019WL 40.65932 -73.26486 VE 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.8 7 10/30/2012 5.29 >500 <0.2 273 SSS–NY–SUF–021WL 40.74918 -73.01338 VE 4.2 4.7 4.9 5.4 7 10/30/2012 6.07 >500 <0.2 274 SSS–NY–SUF–022WL 40.68523 -73.27990 VE 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.8 7 10/30/2012 6.38 >500 <0.2 275 10SSS–NY–SUF–023WV 40.94428 -72.18910 VE 5.7 8.5 14.8 13.4 23 10/29/2012 7.94 40 2.5 276 SSS–NY–SUF–024WL 41.07319 -71.93438 VE 3.5 4.9 5.3 7.2 8 10/29/2012 5.70 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 277 SSS–NY–SUF–026WL 40.74687 -72.85550 AE 4.8 6.0 6.4 7.0 8 10/30/2012 5.68 40 2.5 278 SSS–NY–SUF–027WL 40.74760 -73.15039 AE 4.2 4.6 4.8 5.2 5 10/30/2012 5.30 >500 <0.2 3,9Westchester County 400 405658073433147 40.94889 -73.73278 AE 8.8 10.7 11.6 13.9 12 10/30/2012 10.16 40 2.5 401 SSS-NY-WES-001WL 40.94276 -73.71983 VE 8.7 11.3 12.5 16.8 15 10/30/2012 10.44 40 2.5 402 SSS-NY-WES-003WL 40.89039 -73.78172 AE 8.5 11.1 12.8 16.1 12 10/30/2012 10.44 40 2.5 1Records from temporary monitoring sites in VE zones are likely to have been affected by wave heights of 3 feet (ft) or greater, the effects of which were removed using a 3-minute running mean to obtain a peak elevation comparable to stillwater elevations; monitoring records from sites in other coastal flood hazard zones will have been affected by wave heights less than 3 ft and, thus, provide a peak elevation generally comparable to the corresponding stillwater elevations. 2FEMA stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2009a). 3Coastal flood hazard zones and base flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b). 4Stillwater flood elevations converted from units of feet above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) as reported in Federal Emergency Management Agency (2007a). 5Coastal flood hazard zones from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b); base flood elevations con- verted from units of feet above NGVD 29 as reported in Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b). 6Results not discussed in text or shown in figures. 7Coastal flood hazard zones and flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013e). 8Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2009c). 9Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2007b). 10Stillwater flood elevation for 1-percent annual exceedance probability (100-year recurrence interval) includes wave setup.
28 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 29 GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT ROCKLAND NEW YORK SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Annual exceedance probability, in percent Greater than 10 Less than or equal to 10 and greater than 2 Less than or equal to 2 and (or) greater than 1 Less than or equal to 1 and (or) greater than 0.2 Less than or equal to 0.2 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d MASS. CONN. Hudson River NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W Figure 8. Selected annual exceedance probabilities for peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy in New York counties. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond.
30 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 31 Table 8. Storm-surge magnitude associated with the peak storm tide, and magnitude and timing of the peak storm surge, produced by Hurricane Sandy at 18 permanent monitoring sites in New York. [Negative time difference denotes a peak storm surge that preceded the peak storm tide. Permanent monitoring site locations are shown in figure 2. Peak storm-tide and surge records for Hurricane Sandy at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sites from Fanelli and others (2013). Storm-tide elevation associated with the peak storm surge at NOAA sites from National Ocean Service (2013). No., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; --, no value] Site Peak storm tide Peak storm surge Time difference, in minutes Map no. Identifier Latitude, in decmal degrees Longitude, in decmal degrees Date (GMT) Time (GMT) Elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Storm-surge magnitude, in feet Date (GMT) Time (GMT) Magnitude, in feet Storm-tide elevation, in feet above NAVD 88 Albany County 1 01359139 42.64611 -73.74750 10/30/2012 09:45 10.57 8.03 10/30/2012 08:15 8.15 9.79 -90 Nassau County 27 01302250 40.86622 -73.71019 10/30/2012 02:00 10.31 8.24 10/29/2012 23:06 11.84 7.86 -174 28 01302600 40.88856 -73.63800 10/30/2012 02:30 9.87 7.26 10/29/2012 22:48 11.52 7.21 -222 29 01302845 40.90511 -73.59319 10/30/2012 02:18 10.06 7.59 10/29/2012 23:06 10.76 6.80 -192 30 01310521 40.62760 -73.57541 10/30/2012 01:12 8.98 7.85 10/30/2012 01:36 7.92 8.98 24 31 01310740 40.59344 -73.58374 10/30/2012 01:06 8.97 7.66 10/30/2012 01:36 7.78 8.75 30 32 01311143 40.60883 -73.65611 10/30/2012 01:12 9.77 8.14 10/30/2012 01:48 8.32 9.61 36 33 01311145 40.59316 -73.73735 10/30/2012 00:42 9.70 8.08 10/30/2012 01:12 8.21 9.60 30 35 01311850 40.61733 -73.75791 10/30/2012 01:36 10.55 8.38 10/30/2012 02:00 8.47 10.37 24 36 8516945–NOAA 40.81030 -73.76490 10/30/2012 02:06 -- 8.54 10/29/2012 23:00 12.65 -- -186 New York City 110 01311875 40.57372 -73.88514 10/30/2012 01:06 10.65 8.72 10/30/2012 01:42 9.13 10.58 36 114 8518750–NOAA 40.70000 -74.01333 10/30/2012 01:24 11.28 9.40 10/30/2012 01:24 9.40 11.28 0 115 8519483–NOAA 40.63670 -74.14170 10/30/2012 01:24 -- 9.43 10/30/2012 01:48 9.56 -- 24 Suffolk County 251 01304057 40.96286 -73.14317 10/30/2012 02:06 9.35 7.99 10/30/2012 00:24 9.56 8.09 -102 252 01304200 41.13664 -72.30675 10/30/2012 01:24 6.43 6.00 10/29/2012 22:00 7.18 5.70 -204 254 01304562 40.91778 -72.63867 10/29/2012 20:18 7.65 8.31 10/29/2012 22:12 9.16 7.29 114 255 01309225 40.66927 -73.35568 10/30/2012 02:00 6.54 6.27 10/29/2012 23:54 6.38 6.02 -126 256 8510560–NOAA 41.04833 -71.96000 10/30/2012 00:12 5.55 5.24 10/29/2012 22:12 5.89 5.22 -120

Storm Surge

Data from selected permanent monitoring sites in the 

USGS network and from sites in the NOAA network docu-

ment Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge, calculated as the differ-

ence between the observed water level and normal (predicted 

astronomical) tide level. Calculations of this residual water level 

were performed to assess the storm-surge magnitude associated 

with the peak storm tide, and the magnitude and timing of the 

peak storm surge, for these sites in the two networks.

Storm-Surge Magnitude Associated With Peak 

Storm Tide

The storm-surge magnitudes associated with the peak 

storm tides produced by Hurricane Sandy at 18 permanent 

monitoring sites in New York are provided in table 8 and 

figure 9A. Most magnitudes of the storm surge associated 

with the peak storm tide were greater than about 7.8 ft; most 

of these are from sites in Albany County, along the Atlantic 

Ocean shore of Nassau County, and in New York City. The 

maximum storm-surge magnitude associated with the peak 

storm tide was 9.43 ft at permanent monitoring site 8519483 

(map number 115) in New York City. The minimum stormsurge magnitude associated with the peak storm tide was 

5.24 ft at permanent monitoring site 8510560 (map num-

ber 256) in Suffolk County near the extreme eastern tip of 

Long Island.

Magnitude and Timing of Peak Storm Surge

The magnitude and timing of the peak storm surge 

produced by Hurricane Sandy at 18 permanent monitoring 

sites in New York are listed in table 8; the magnitudes of the 

peak storm-surge from this storm at these sites are shown 

in figure 9B. Most magnitudes of the peak storm surge were 

greater than about 8.3 ft; nearly of these are from sites along 

the Long Island Sound shores of Nassau and Suffolk Coun-

ties and in New York City. The maximum magnitude of the 

peak storm surge was 12.65 ft at permanent monitoring site 

8516945 (map number 36) along the Long Island Sound shore 

of Nassau County. The minimum magnitude of the peak storm 

surge was 5.89 ft at permanent monitoring site 8510560 (map 

number 256) in Suffolk County near the extreme eastern tip of 

Long Island.

Of the 18 permanent monitoring sites in table 8, the peak 

storm surge arrived within 36 minutes of the time of peak 

storm tide at 8 sites (44 percent), all of which are along the 

Atlantic Ocean shore of Nassau County and in New York City; 

this condition resulted from the peak storm surge arriving in 

phase with the astronomical tide—generally coinciding with 

normal high tide—at these locations (Schubert and Buscio-

lano, 2013). In contrast, the peak storm surge preceded the 

time of peak storm tide by 90 minutes or more at 9 of 18 sites 

(50 percent); these sites are all in Albany County, along the 

Long Island Sound shore of Nassau County, and in Suffolk 

County. The peak storm surge followed the time of peak 

storm tide by 114 minutes at the one remaining site, which is 

in Suffolk County at the head of an estuary on eastern Long 

Island. In the two latter cases, the condition resulted from 

peak storm surges arriving out of phase with the astronomical 

tide—nearly coinciding with normal low tide locally—at these 

sites (Schubert and Busciolano, 2013), all of which are inland 

of the New York Bight.

Extent of Storm-Tide Inundation

Comparisons were made between selected maps of the 

extents of storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy that 

were derived from differing amounts of available USGS data 

from the permanent and temporary monitoring sites and HWM 

sites. The comparisons were made using the results of FEMA 

HAZUS (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2013d) 

flood loss analyses depicted for three different extents of 

storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy. These depic-

tions include a (1) pre-storm mapping of inundation extent; 

(2) November 11, 2012, mapping of inundation extent; and 

(3) February 14, 2013, mapping of inundation extent (Austen 

K. Cutrell, Federal Emergency Management Agency, written 

commun., 2013).

Mapping of Inundation Extent

The final, pre-storm mapping of inundation extent 

from Hurricane Sandy, as indicated in a 30-meter (m) reso-

lution NHC Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurri-

canes (SLOSH) model (National Hurricane Center, 2013c) 

hindcast product dated October 31, 2012, is shown in 

figure 10A. Figure 10B shows the November 11, 2012, map-

ping of inundation extent from Hurricane Sandy, as indicated 

in a FEMA interim high-resolution (3-m) product that was 

based on USGS data available from storm landfall through 

November 11, 2012. The February 14, 2013, mapping of 

inundation extent from Hurricane Sandy, as indicated in a 

FEMA final high-resolution (3-m) product based on USGS 

data available from storm landfall through February 14, 2013, 

is shown in figure 10C. A visual comparison of the three maps 

(fig. 10) shows that small differences in inundation extent are 

locally apparent; however, more meaningful comparisons may 

be made using the results of HAZUS flood loss analyses for 

the mapped inundation extents.
32 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 33 GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT ROCKLAND NEW YORK SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Storm-surge magnitude associated with peak storm tide, in feet 9.01 to 9.43 8.01 to 9.00 7.01 to 8.00 6.01 to 7.00 5.24 to 6.00 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d MASS. CONN. Hudson River NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W AFigure 9. A, Storm-surge magnitude associated with the peak storm tide produced by Hurricane Sandy in New York counties. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond.
34 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 35 GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT ROCKLAND NEW YORK SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Magnitude of peak storm surge, in feet 11.51 to 12.65 10.01 to 11.50 8.51 to 10.00 7.01 to 8.50 5.89 to 7.00 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d MASS. CONN. Hudson River NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W BFigure 9. B, Magnitude of the peak storm surge produced by Hurricane Sandy in New York counties. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond.—Continued.
36 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 37 GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT NEW YORK ROCKLAND SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Storm-tide inundation, in feet 13.6 to 18.0 9.1 to 13.5 4.6 to 9.0 0.0 to 4.5 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d MASS. CONN. Hudson River NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W AFigure 10. A, Extent of storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy in New York counties that was derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) storm-tide data available for National Hurricane Center Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes model hindcast product dated October 31, 2012. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond. Extent of storm-tide inundation is from Austen K. Cutrell (Federal Emergency Management Agency, written commun., 2013).
38 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 39 MASS. CONN. Hudson River GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT ROCKLAND NEW YORK SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Storm-tide inundation, in feet 13.6 to 18.0 9.1 to 13.5 4.6 to 9.0 0.0 to 4.5 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W BFigure 10. B, Extent of storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy in New York counties that was derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) storm-tide data available for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) interim high-resolution product based on USGS data available from storm landfall through November 11, 2012. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond. Extent of storm-tide inundation is from Austen K. Cutrell (Federal Emergency Management Agency, written commun., 2013).—Continued
40 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy 41 GREENE DUTCHESS ULSTER COLUMBIA ALBANY RENSSELAER NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT NEW YORK ROCKLAND SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX NEW YORK NEW JERSEY QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX EXPLANATION Storm-tide inundation, in feet 13.6 to 18.0 9.1 to 13.5 4.6 to 9.0 0.0 to 4.5 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d 0 5 10 2.5 KILOMETERS 0 5 10 2.5 MILES MASS. CONN. Hudson River NEW YORK 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Area enlarged on facing page 72°W 73°W 74°W 42° 30'N 42°N 73° 45'W 74° 15'W 40° 45'N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 74°W CFigure 10. C, Extent of storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy in New York counties that was derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) storm-tide data available for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) final high-resolution product based on USGS data available from storm landfall through February 14, 2013. Inset shows enlargement of the five counties that comprise New York City—Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond. Extent of storm-tide inundation is from Austen K. Cutrell (FEMA, written commun., 2013).—Continued
42 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Summary and Conclusions 43 NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT NEW YORK ROCKLAND SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX 4.3 0.60 9.8 3.2 4.3 1.2 2.4 4.6 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N EXPLANATION Estimated total building stock losses, in billions of dollars [2006] 5.1 to 10 1.1 to 5.0 0.51 to 1.0 0.21 to 0.50 0.00 to 0.20 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data,1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection 0 10 20 5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d A

HAZUS Flood Loss Analyses

HAZUS is FEMA’s “nationally applicable standardized 

methodology that contains models for estimating poten-

tial losses” from floods and other disasters; through use of 

geographic information system (GIS) technology, HAZUS 

enables the physical, economic, and social effects of disasters 

to be estimated (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 

2013d). Results of HAZUS building stock flood loss analyses 

performed for New York counties are mapped for the three 

extents of inundation from Hurricane Sandy in figure 11; the 

losses for the three different storm-tide inundation extents 

are graphed by date in figure 12. The results consist of 

depictions of estimated total building stock losses for the 

pre-storm (October 31, 2012) mapping of inundation extent; 

November 11, 2012, mapping of inundation extent; and 

February 14, 2013, mapping of inundation extent (fig. 10A, 

10B, and 10C, respectively, and fig. 12).

The depictions of estimated total building stock losses 

document how differing amounts of available USGS data 

affect the resolution and accuracy of storm-tide inundation 

extents. Estimated losses for October 31, 2012, (fig. 11A) 

were derived from an inundation extent (fig. 10A) that was 

based on essentially no data from the temporary monitoring 

sites or HWM sites. Estimated losses for November 11, 2012, 

(fig. 11B) were derived from an inundation extent (fig. 10B) 

produced after most of the temporary sensor data became 

available but before most of the HWM sites were surveyed. 

Estimated losses for February 14, 2013, (fig. 11C) were 

derived from an inundation extent (fig. 10C) produced after 

all data from the temporary monitoring sites and HWM sites 

had become available.

Overall, the depictions indicate that estimated losses 

from Hurricane Sandy for all building stock are consistently 

higher for coastal counties, particularly those along the 

Atlantic Ocean shore (fig. 11), than for the rest of New York. 

Using the most accurate results from the final (February 14, 

2013) extent of storm-tide inundation, estimated total build-

ing stock losses range from $380 million to $5.9 billion for 

New York counties; total estimated aggregate losses are about 

$23 billion for all New York counties (fig. 12). The aggre-

gate HAZUS loss assessments for all New York counties are 

highest for the analyses made using the October 31, 2012, 

inundation data; substantially lower for the analyses made 

using the November 11, 2012, inundation data; and lower still 

for the analyses made using the February 14, 2013, inunda-

tion data. This trend also appears in the results for Nassau and 

New York counties; however, the results for other counties 

show mixed trends.

Estimated total building stock losses from Hurricane 

Sandy for the three storm-tide inundation extents were 

subtracted from one another to create graphs from datasets 

of differences, which are shown in figure 13. The differ-

ences datasets are referred to by the dates of the inundation 

extents used in the HAZUS analyses—November 11, 2012, 

minus October 31, 2012 (fig. 13A), February 14, 2013, minus 

October 31, 2012 (fig. 13B), and February 14, 2013, minus 

November 11, 2012 (fig. 13C). These datasets indicate there 

are substantial differences between HAZUS loss esti-

mates for analyses done using the three inundation extents. 

Figure 13 clearly shows the differences resulting from the 

quality of the inundation extent, which, in turn, is largely 

determined by the availability of USGS storm-tide data. The 

differences (expressed using absolute values) are as high as 

$4.6 billion for individual counties, while aggregate total 

differences for all New York counties approached $8 billion 

(fig. 12). These results demonstrate the significant effect that 

the resolution and accuracy of the inundation extent data 

have on the HAZUS analyses. In that the improved resolution 

and accuracy are largely due to the data from the temporary 

monitoring network deployment and HWM flagging and sur-

veying campaign, the cost of this deployment and campaign 

seems more than justified by the substantial improvement in 

final loss estimates. The value of these findings for informing 

future post-storm reconstruction planning and estimation of 

insurance claims are considerable.

Summary and Conclusions

The hybrid cyclone nor’easter known as Hurricane 

Sandy affected the mid-Atlantic and northeastern coastline 

of the United States during October 28–30, 2012, producing 

northeast-to-southeast winds of tropical-storm strength 

(39 to 73 miles per hour [mi/hr]) that gusted to greater 

than hurricane strength (greater than 73 mi/hr) and caused 

extensive coastal flooding and beach erosion. Prior to storm 

landfall, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) deployed a 

temporary monitoring network from Virginia to Maine of 

water-level and barometric pressure sensors to continuously 

record the timing, areal extent, and magnitude of the storm 

tide and coastal flooding generated by Hurricane Sandy. 

The temporary monitoring network augmented USGS 

and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA) networks of permanent monitoring sites that also 

documented storm surge—the difference (when positive) 

between the observed water level and normal (predicted 

astronomical) tide level. Continuous data from these 

networks were greatly supplemented by an extensive poststorm high-water-mark (HWM) flagging and surveying 

campaign from November to December 2012. The temporary 

monitoring network deployment and HWM flagging and 

surveying campaign were undertaken as part of a coordinated 

Federal emergency response as outlined by the Stafford Act 

(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) under a directed mission assignment 

by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

The need for information that assists in the analysis of flood 

damages and future flood mitigation efforts in New York 

prompted the current analysis of Hurricane Sandy by the 

USGS under this FEMA mission assignment.Figure 11. A, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazus Program (HAZUS) estimated total building stock losses due to storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy in selected New York counties for inundation depicted in National Hurricane Center Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes model hindcast product dated October 31, 2012.
44 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Summary and Conclusions 45 NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT NEW YORK ROCKLAND SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX 3.6 0.38 6.9 2.9 5.3 0.52 1.6 3.4 EXPLANATION Estimated total building stock losses, in billions of dollars 5.1 to 7.0 1.1 to 5.0 0.51 to 1.0 0.21 to 0.50 0.00 to 0.20 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection BC NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT NEW YORK ROCKLAND SUFFOLK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER ORANGE NASSAU PUTNAM QUEENS KINGS RICHMOND BRONX 3.2 0.38 5.2 2.8 5.9 0.44 1.6 3.1 EXPLANATION Estimated total building stock losses, in billions of dollars 5.1 to 6.0 1.1 to 5.0 0.51 to 1.0 0.21 to 0.50 0.00 to 0.20 0 10 20 5 KILOMETERS 0 10 20 5 MILES ATLANTIC OCEAN L o n g I s l a n d S o u n d Hudson River L o n g I s l a n d 72°W 73°W 74°W 41° 30'N 41°N 40° 30'N Base from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration medium-resolution 1:70,000-scale digital vector shoreline data, 1994 Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 18N projection Figure 11. B, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazus Program (HAZUS) estimated total building stock losses due to storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy in selected New York counties for inundation depicted in FEMA interim high-resolution product based on U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data available from storm landfall through November 11, 2012.—Continued Figure 11. C, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazus Program (HAZUS) estimated total building stock losses due to storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy in selected New York counties for inundation depicted in FEMA final high-resolution product based on USGS data available from storm landfall through February 14, 2013.—Continued
46 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Summary and Conclusions 47

Figure 12. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazus Program (HAZUS) estimated total building 

stock losses due to storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy in selected New York counties for inundation 

depicted in National Hurricane Center Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes model hindcast product 

dated October 31, 2012, FEMA interim high-resolution product based on U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data 

available from storm landfall through November 11, 2012, and FEMA final high-resolution product based on USGS 

data available from storm landfall through February 14, 2013.

Figure 13. Differences between Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazus Program (HAZUS) estimated 

total building stock losses due to storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy in selected New York counties for 

inundation depicted in National Hurricane Center National Hurricane Center Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from 

Hurricanes model hindcast product dated October 31, 2012, FEMA interim high-resolution product based on U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS) storm-tide data available through November 11, 2012, and FEMA final high-resolution 

product based on USGS storm-tide data available through February 14, 2013. A, November 11, 2012, minus October 31, 

2012, B, February 14, 2013, minus October 31, 2012, and C, February 14, 2013, minus November 11, 2012. Blue and red 

shading denotes positive and negative values, respectively. Green shading denotes absolute values.

5.8

1.0

0.4

-0.22 -0.3 -0.7

-1.2

-1.9

-2.9

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Billions of dollars

A. November 11, 2012, minus October 31, 2012

October 31, 2012

November 11, 2012

February 14, 2013

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Billions of dollars

7.8

1.6

0.4

-0.22 -0.4 -1.1 -1.5 -2.0

-4.6

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

Billions of dollars

B. February 14, 2013, minus October 31, 2012

2.0

0.6

0.0 0.0

-0.1 -0.1 -0.3 -0.4

-1.7 -2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Billions of dollars

C. February 14, 2012, minus November 11, 2012
48 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York References Cited 49

Hurricane Sandy was the 18th named storm and 10th 

hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. The extremely 

large fetch of tropical-storm force winds circulating around 

Hurricane Sandy, combined with its anomalous track, piled 

large amounts of ocean water, over multiple tidal cycles, north 

and west of the center of counterclockwise circulation. This 

onshore flow was funneled into the New York Bight—the 

large embayment formed by the Atlantic coastline of Long 

Island and northern New Jersey—and inland through the many 

interconnected estuaries, propagating over 100 miles north 

along the Hudson River to the head-of-tide at the Federal Dam 

in Troy.

The analysis of storm-tide impacts focused on three 

distinct but related aspects of coastal flooding produced by 

Hurricane Sandy, including flooding inland along the tidal 

reach of the Hudson River. These aspects are (1) comparisons 

of Hurricane Sandy peak storm-tide elevations with those 

of historical storms and to annual exceedance probabilities; (2) identification of the storm-surge magnitude associated 

with the peak storm tide, and magnitude and timing of the 

peak storm surge; and (3) comparisons of maps of inundation 

extent that were derived from differing amounts of available sensor and HWM data. Most peak storm-tide elevations 

from Hurricane Sandy were greater than about 9.5 feet (ft) 

above North American Vertical Datum of 1988; this level was 

exceeded at most of the sites in Albany, Nassau, Rensselaer, 

and Westchester Counties and New York City.

Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy 

were compared with those of historical storms for which data 

on substantial coastal flooding are available. These storms 

include the intense nor’easter of December 11–13, 1992, and 

Hurricane Irene (August 27–28, 2011), which weakened to a 

tropical storm before arriving in New York. Peak storm-tide 

elevations from Hurricane Sandy were higher than those from 

the December 1992 nor’easter at 24 of 27 sites (89 percent) 

overall. Most differences were greater than about 0.7 ft or 

9 percent (above the historical storm tide), with most of 

these from sites along the Atlantic Ocean shores of Nassau 

and Suffolk Counties and in New York City. Peak storm-tide 

elevations from Hurricane Sandy were higher than those from 

Tropical Storm Irene at all sites. Most differences were greater 

than about 2.5 ft or 48 percent, with most of these from sites 

along the Atlantic Ocean shores of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, in New York City, and in Rockland County.

Peak storm-tide elevations at the permanent and temporary monitoring sites and the HWM sites were compared with 

the corresponding FEMA flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, 

and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 

100-, and 500-year recurrence intervals). Peak storm-tide 

elevations from Hurricane Sandy had annual exceedance 

probabilities of less than or equal to 1 percent and (or) greater 

than 0.2 percent [recurrence intervals greater than or equal 

to 100 years and (or) less than 500 years] at a plurality of 

sites—184 of 413 (45 percent); most of these were from sites 

in Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, and Ulster 

Counties; New York City; and along the Hudson River shore 

of Westchester County. Peak storm-tide elevations associated 

with the minimum annual exceedance probabilities (maximum 

recurrence intervals)—elevations higher than or equal to the 

FEMA 0.2-percent (500-year) flood elevation—accounted 

for 81 of 413 sites (20 percent); most of these were along the 

Atlantic Ocean shore of Nassau and western Suffolk Counties, in Orange and Rockland Counties, and along the Hudson 

River shore of Westchester County. Peak storm-tide elevations 

associated with the maximum annual exceedance probability 

(minimum recurrence interval)—elevations lower than the 

FEMA 10-percent (10-year) flood elevation—accounted for 

only 10 of 413 sites (2 percent); most of these were in Albany 

and Rensselaer Counties.

Data from selected permanent monitoring sites in the 

USGS network and from sites in the NOAA network were 

used to assess the storm-surge magnitude associated with the 

peak storm tide and the magnitude and timing of the peak 

storm surge. Most magnitudes of the storm surge associated 

with the peak storm tide were greater than about 7.8 ft; most 

of these are from sites in Albany County, along the Atlantic 

Ocean shore of Nassau County, and in New York City. Most 

magnitudes of the peak storm surge were greater than about 

8.3 ft; nearly all of these are from sites along the Long Island 

Sound shores of Nassau and Suffolk Counties and in New 

York City. Of the 18 permanent monitoring sites, the peak 

storm surge arrived within 36 minutes of the time of peak 

storm tide at 8 sites (44 percent), all of which are along the 

Atlantic Ocean shore of Nassau County and in New York City; 

this condition resulted from the peak storm surge arriving in 

phase with the astronomical tide—generally coinciding with 

normal high tide—at these locations. In contrast, the peak 

storm surge preceded the time of peak storm tide by 90 minutes or more at 9 of 18 sites (50 percent); these sites are all in 

Albany County, along the Long Island Sound shore of Nassau 

County, and in Suffolk County. In this latter case, the condition resulted from peak storm surges arriving out of phase with 

the astronomical tide—nearly coinciding with normal low 

tide locally—at these sites, all of which are inland of the New 

York Bight. Understandably, the timing of peak storm surge 

arrival with respect to local phase of tide ultimately controlled 

where the most extreme storm-tide levels and coastal flooding 

occurred. This finding has bearing not only for sites impacted 

by the highest storm tides from Hurricane Sandy, but also 

for those sites that had the greatest storm surges yet were 

spared the worst flooding because of fortuitous timing during 

this storm.

Comparisons were made between selected maps of the 

extent of storm-tide inundation from Hurricane Sandy that 

were derived from differing amounts of available USGS data 

from the permanent and temporary monitoring sites and HWM 

sites. The comparisons were made using the results of FEMA 

Hazus Program (HAZUS) flood loss analyses depicted for 

three different extents of storm-tide inundation from Hurricane 

Sandy. Depictions of estimated total building stock losses 

document how differing amounts of available USGS data affect 

the resolution and accuracy of storm-tide inundation extents. 

Overall, these depictions indicate that estimated losses from 

Hurricane Sandy for all building stock are consistently higher 

for coastal counties, particularly those along the Atlantic Ocean 

shore, than for other New York counties. Using the most accurate results from the final (February 14, 2013) extent of stormtide inundation, estimated total building stock losses range 

from $380 million to $5.9 billion for New York counties; total 

estimated aggregate losses are about $23 billion for all New 

York counties. Clearly, the quality of the inundation extents 

used in HAZUS analyses has a significant effect on final 

results. In that the improved resolution and accuracy are largely 

due to the data from the temporary monitoring network deployment and HWM flagging and surveying campaign, the cost of 

this deployment and campaign seems more than justified by the 

substantial improvement in final loss estimates. The value of 

these findings for informing future post-storm reconstruction 

planning and estimation of insurance claims are considerable.

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Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2013d, Hazus—The 

Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) methodology for estimating potential losses from disasters: Federal Emergency Management Agency Web page, accessed 

October 17, 2013, at http://www.fema.gov/hazus/.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2013e, Preliminary 

work map data for New York City: Federal Emergency 

Management Agency cloud GIS infrastructure production 

site, accessed June 11, 2013, at http://184.72.33.183/Public/

PreliminaryWorkMaps/NY/NYC/.

Holmes, R.R., Jr., Dinicola, K., 2010, 100-year flood—It’s all 

about chance: U.S. Geological Survey General Information 

Product 106, 1 p. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

gip/106/.)

McCallum, B.E., Painter, J.A., and Frantz, E.R., 2012, Monitoring inland storm tide and flooding from Hurricane Irene 

along the Atlantic coast of the United States, August 2011: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1022, 29 p. 

(Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1022/.)

McCallum, B.E., Wicklein, S.M., Reiser, R.G., Busciolano, 

Ronald, Morrison, Jonathan, Verdi, R.J., Painter, J.A., 

Frantz, E.R., and Gotvald, A.J., 2013, Monitoring storm tide 

and flooding from Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic coast 

of the United States, October 2012: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 2013–1043, 42 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2013/1043/.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2013, Hurricane Sandy (Atlantic Ocean): National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration hurricanes/tropical cyclones—2012 

storms Web page, accessed December 31, 2014, at http://www.

nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2012/h2012_

Sandy.html/.

National Hurricane Center, 2013a, NHC data in GIS formats: 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National 

Weather Service, National Hurricane Center database, 

accessed August 12–September 10, 2013, at http://www.

nhc.noaa.gov/gis/.

National Hurricane Center, 2013b, Saffir-Simpson hurricane 

wind scale: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center 

Web page, accessed October 1, 2013, at http://www.nhc.

noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml/.

National Hurricane Center, 2013c, Sea, lake, and overland 

surges from hurricanes (SLOSH): National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, 

National Hurricane Center Web page, accessed October 1, 

2013, at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/surge/slosh.php/.

National Ocean Service, 2013, Tide data—Station selection: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Tides and Currents Database, accessed September 

18, 2013, at http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/stations.

html?type=Water+Levels.

Schubert, C.E., and Busciolano, Ronald, 1994, Peak stormtide elevations produced by the December 1992 storm 

along the coast of Long Island, New York, with historical peak storm-tide elevations [abs.], in Association of 

Long Island Geologists, First Conference on Geology of 

Long Island and Metropolitan New York, Programs with 

Abstracts, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 

N.Y., April 23, 1994: Stony Brook, N.Y., State University 

of New York at Stony Brook, Department of Earth and 

Space Sciences, p. 130–136.

Schubert, C.E., and Busciolano, Ronald, 2013, Historic coastal 

flooding produced by Hurricane Sandy in southeastern New 

York [abs.], in National Hydrologic Warning Council, 2013 

Training Conference and Exposition, Ponte Vedra, Fla., 

June 3–6, 2013: National Hydrologic Warning Council Web 

page, accessed July 22, 2014, at http://www.hydrologicwarning.org/content.aspx?page_id=70&club_id=617218&item_

id=22227&cat_id=22275.
Table 7
52 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 53

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

 2,3Albany County 

2 HWM–NY–ALB–006 42.47331 -73.79050 AE 10.2 13.8 15.6 19.6 15.2 10/30/2012 10.2 10 10 0.0 Fair Fair debris line across field in park

3 HWM–NY–ALB–007 42.47344 -73.79050 AE 10.2 13.8 15.6 19.6 15.2 10/30/2012 10.0 <10 >10 0.0 Poor Poor debris line along field in park

4 HWM–NY–ALB–009 42.74684 -73.68936 A12 21.3 25.9 27.6 31.3 27.3 10/30/2012 10.6 <10 >10 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on right bank rip-rap

5 HWM–NY–ALB–010 42.74740 -73.68924 A12 21.3 25.9 27.6 31.3 27.3 10/30/2012 10.7 <10 >10 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on right bank rip-rap

4,5Dutchess County

7 HWM–NY–DUT–001 41.70667 -73.94013 AE 5.9 7.1 8.0 9.7 8 10/30/2012 9.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.0 Good Good seed line on back door of restaurant

8 HWM–NY–DUT–002 41.70699 -73.94000 X -- -- -- 9.7 -- 10/30/2012 9.0 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass

9 HWM–NY–DUT–003 41.70874 -73.93926 AE 5.9 7.1 8.0 9.7 8 10/30/2012 9.1 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.9 Good Good seed line on downstream exterior wall of Children’s Museum

10 HWM–NY–DUT–004 41.70865 -73.93920 AE 5.9 7.1 8.0 9.7 8 10/30/2012 9.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.4 Good Good seed line on streamward side of outbuilding

11 HWM–NY–DUT–005 41.70853 -73.93947 AE 5.9 7.1 8.0 9.7 8 10/30/2012 9.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.7 Good Good seed line on upstream side of green power shed

12 HWM–NY–DUT–006 41.65165 -73.94353 AE 5.9 7.1 8.0 9.7 8 10/30/2012 9.1 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.1 Good Good seed line on outside of USGS streamgage—01372058—Hudson River below 

Poughkeepsie, NY

13 HWM–NY–DUT–007 41.65172 -73.94363 AE 5.9 7.1 8.0 9.7 8 10/30/2012 9.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 5.1 Good Good mud line inside USGS streamgage—01372058—Hudson River below 

Poughkeepsie, NY

5,6Greene County 

15 HWM–NY–GRE–001 42.34817 -73.79239 AE 8.5 11.5 12.9 16.1 14 10/30/2012 9.6 20 5.0 1.9 Good Good seed line on white vinyl fence on Franklin Street

16 HWM–NY–GRE–002 42.34814 -73.79247 AE 8.5 11.5 12.9 16.1 14 10/30/2012 9.7 30 3.3 4.0 Good Good seed and mud line on sliding glass door on Franklin Street

17 HWM–NY–GRE–003 42.34786 -73.79256 AE 8.5 11.5 12.9 16.1 14 10/30/2012 9.2 20 5.0 0.0 Good Good debris line on lawn

18 HWM–NY–GRE–004 42.26305 -73.80639 AE 7.4 9.8 10.9 13.6 11 10/30/2012 9.5 50 2.0 -- Excellent Excellent seed line on Athens wastewater treatment plant sign

19 HWM–NY–GRE–005 42.26287 -73.80664 AE 7.4 9.8 10.9 13.6 11 10/30/2012 9.5 50 2.0 -- Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of blue house

20 HWM–NY–GRE–006 42.26246 -73.80628 AE 7.4 9.8 10.9 13.6 11 10/30/2012 9.5 50 2.0 -- Excellent Excellent seed line on white house

21 HWM–NY–GRE–007 42.26333 -73.80640 AE 7.4 9.8 10.9 13.6 11 10/30/2012 9.5 50 2.0 -- Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of red garage on wastewater treatment plant property

22 HWM–NY–GRE–008 42.21036 -73.85409 AE 6.3 8.0 8.6 10.9 10 10/30/2012 8.5 90 1.1 3.1 Good Good seed line on cinder block wall behind dumpster

23 HWM–NY–GRE–009 42.21034 -73.85379 AE 6.3 8.0 8.6 10.9 10 10/30/2012 9.6 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.9 Good Good seed/mud line on window of “Historic Catskill Point” building

24 HWM–NY–GRE–010 42.21027 -73.85436 AE 6.3 8.0 8.6 10.9 10 10/30/2012 9.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.1 Fair Fair seed line on “Catskill Historical marker” sign on “Port of Call” restaurant

25 HWM–NY–GRE–011 42.21043 -73.85438 AE 6.3 8.0 8.6 10.9 10 10/30/2012 9.6 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.4 Good Good seed line on gate for “Port of Call” restaurant

26 HWM–NY–GRE–012 42.21046 -73.85430 AE 6.3 8.0 8.6 10.9 10 10/30/2012 9.6 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.5 Good Good mud line on “Port of Call” restaurant door

 5,7Nassau County

44 HWM–NY–NAS–001 40.61083 -73.71500 AE 6.7 8.4 9.3 10.4 9 10/30/2012 9.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on back lawn on house

45 19HWM–NY–NAS–220 40.58705 -73.73468 AE 6.7 8.8 11.1 12.0 15 10/30/2012 12.7 >500 <0.2 3.0 Excellent Excellent mud line inside the service entrance on inside wall at Ocean Boulevard

46 19HWM–NY–NAS–221 40.58619 -73.71098 AE 6.7 8.9 14.0 12.4 14 10/30/2012 10.6 70 1.4 0.6 Good Good mud line inside maintenance shed to west of main entrance to Atlantic Beach Club 

on Beach Street

47 19HWM–NY–NAS–222 40.58958 -73.61233 AE 6.5 8.1 9.5 10.0 13 10/30/2012 10.2 >500 <0.2 0.8 Good Good mud line inside small room and under air-conditioning unit

48 HWM–NY–NAS–223 40.59228 -73.57712 AE 6.4 7.5 7.9 8.6 9 10/30/2012 9.3 >500 <0.2 0.6 Fair Fair seed line on field manager shed by mower shelter

49 HWM–NY–NAS–224 40.60113 -73.50374 AE 5.7 6.7 7.1 7.7 8 10/30/2012 8.0 >500 <0.2 3.6 Excellent Excellent seed line on inside of pump station door

50 HWM–NY–NAS–225 40.58967 -73.55444 AE 6.4 7.5 7.9 8.6 8 10/30/2012 8.7 >500 <0.2 1.5 Excellent Excellent seed and mud line on inside of concession stand building

51 HWM–NY–NAS–416 40.65380 -73.45880 AE 5.2 6.2 6.5 7.2 7 10/29/2012 7.9 >500 <0.2 3.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of shed

52 19HWM–NY–NAS–501 40.87750 -73.53017 AE 6.3 8.7 9.9 12.0 11 10/30/2012 9.8 100 1.0 1.0 Good Good seed line inside of building

53 19HWM–NY–NAS–502 40.87593 -73.53659 AE 6.3 8.7 9.9 12.0 11 10/30/2012 10.1 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.8 Good Good seed line inside of building

54 HWM–NY–NAS–512 40.79520 -73.75320 X -- -- -- 12.8 -- 10/30/2012 10.2 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line in yard on Candy Lane

55 19HWM–NY–NAS–513 40.81418 -73.76414 VE 6.8 9.9 11.3 12.8 17 10/30/2012 10.8 <100 >1 0.0 Fair Fair debris line in yard on Steamboat Road

56 19HWM–NY–NAS–516 40.81764 -73.71872 AE 7.3 9.9 11.3 13.5 14 10/30/2012 9.7 50 2.0 0.0 Fair Fair debris line in yard on Pheasant Run Road

57 19HWM–NY–NAS–517 40.82108 -73.70426 AE 7.3 10.2 11.5 13.5 13 10/30/2012 10.0 50 2.0 2.5 Good Good seed line inside garage

58 19HWM–NY–NAS–518 40.83497 -73.72870 AE 7.3 9.9 11.5 13.5 13 10/30/2012 10.8 80 1.3 0.0 Fair Fair wash line in yard

59 19HWM–NY–NAS–519 40.82775 -73.65676 AE 7.3 10.2 11.2 13.5 12 10/30/2012 10.4 60 1.7 0.0 Fair Fair wash line in recreation park
54 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 55

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

5,7Nassau County—Continued

60 HWM–NY–NAS–700 40.88750 -73.56361 AE 6.3 8.7 9.4 12.0 11 10/30/2012 10.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.2 Excellent Excellent seed line inside USGS streamgage—01303000—Mill Neck Creek at Mill 

Neck, NY

61 19HWM–NY–NAS–707 40.58398 -73.64081 AE 6.7 8.4 10.1 10.9 15 10/30/2012 10.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.1 Good Good mud line on beach wall

62 HWM–NY–NAS–708 40.59076 -73.64328 AE 6.6 8.0 8.4 9.1 9 10/30/2012 9.3 >500 <0.2 1.3 Excellent Excellent mud line on inside wall of house

63 HWM–NY–NAS–709 40.59328 -73.66889 AE 6.7 8.1 8.6 9.2 9 10/30/2012 8.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.8 Excellent Excellent mud line on inside wall of house

64 19HWM–NY–NAS–710 40.58501 -73.66842 AE 6.7 8.4 10.1 10.8 14 10/30/2012 11.6 >500 <0.2 1.7 Excellent Excellent mud line on back of building

65 19HWM–NY–NAS–711 40.58437 -73.68644 AE 6.7 8.4 10.1 10.7 15 10/30/2012 9.7 90 1.1 0.4 Good Good mud line on front of building

66 HWM–NY–NAS–712 40.59185 -73.68087 AE 6.7 8.1 8.6 9.4 9 10/30/2012 9.5 >500 <0.2 -- Good Good mud line on side of fence

67 HWM–NY–NAS–901 40.65905 -73.42680 AE 5.2 6.2 6.5 7.2 7 10/29/2012 7.5 >500 <0.2 3.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

68 HWM–NY–NAS–902 40.66249 -73.44657 AE 5.2 6.2 6.5 7.2 7 10/29/2012 7.7 >500 <0.2 1.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on inside wall of building

69 HWM–NY–NAS–903 40.65387 -73.46098 AE 5.2 6.2 6.5 7.2 7 10/30/2012 8.0 >500 <0.2 3.3 Good Good seed line on side of house

70 HWM–NY–NAS–904 40.66478 -73.47136 X -- -- -- 7.5 -- 10/30/2012 8.4 >500 <0.2 0.8 Good Good seed line on side of fence

71 HWM–NY–NAS–906 40.65828 -73.50484 X -- -- -- 7.7 -- 10/30/2012 7.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on grassy hill

72 HWM–NY–NAS–907 40.64879 -73.51624 X -- -- -- 7.7 -- 10/29/2012 8.5 >500 <0.2 0.9 Good Good seed line on side of fence

73 HWM–NY–NAS–908 40.66016 -73.52912 AE 6.0 7.1 7.5 8.1 8 10/29/2012 8.6 >500 <0.2 2.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

74 HWM–NY–NAS–909 40.65054 -73.72746 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 11 10/30/2012 8.8 >500 <0.2 1.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

75 HWM–NY–NAS–910 40.62586 -73.74889 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 11 10/30/2012 10.4 >500 <0.2 1.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on front of house

76 HWM–NY–NAS–911 40.61710 -73.75665 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 11 10/30/2012 10.2 >500 <0.2 4.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on front of house

77 HWM–NY–NAS–912 40.60548 -73.73197 AE 6.7 8.6 9.6 11.3 10 10/29/2012 9.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

78 HWM–NY–NAS–913 40.60913 -73.71528 X -- -- -- 10.4 -- 10/29/2012 10.0 <500 >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass lawn

79 HWM–NY–NAS–914 40.62015 -73.70643 AE 6.7 8.4 9.3 10.4 10 10/29/2012 10.1 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.9 Excellent Excellent seed line on front of house

80 HWM–NY–NAS–915 40.63459 -73.66964 AE 6.7 8.0 8.4 9.1 9 10/29/2012 9.6 >500 <0.2 1.2 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

81 HWM–NY–NAS–916 40.64152 -73.65965 AE 6.7 8.0 8.4 9.1 9 10/29/2012 8.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.8 Good Good seed line on front of building

82 HWM–NY–NAS–917 40.62223 -73.64732 X -- -- -- 9.1 -- 10/29/2012 9.4 >500 <0.2 1.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of building

83 HWM–NY–NAS–918 40.63071 -73.63131 X -- -- -- 8.9 -- 10/29/2012 9.4 >500 <0.2 1.6 Excellent Excellent seed line on front of house

84 HWM–NY–NAS–919 40.63021 -73.61309 X -- -- -- 8.7 -- 10/29/2012 9.3 >500 <0.2 2.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

85 HWM–NY–NAS–920 40.64001 -73.59571 AE 6.4 7.5 7.9 8.6 8 10/29/2012 9.2 >500 <0.2 3.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on front of house

86 HWM–NY–NAS–921 40.63229 -73.58286 AE 6.4 7.5 7.9 8.6 8 10/29/2012 9.0 >500 <0.2 4.6 Good Good seed line on front of house

87 HWM–NY–NAS–922 40.64760 -73.55389 AE 6.0 7.1 7.5 8.1 8 10/29/2012 8.4 >500 <0.2 2.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

88 19HWM–NY–NAS–923 40.85722 -73.46333 AE 6.3 8.7 10.4 12.0 10 10/30/2012 9.7 80 1.3 3.7 Excellent Excellent cork line inside USGS streamgage—01303500—Cold Spring Brook at Cold 

Spring Harbor, NY

89 19HWM–NY–NAS–924 40.86783 -73.47280 VE 6.3 8.7 10.4 12.0 24 10/30/2012 10.0 <100 >1 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on grass

90 19HWM–NY–NAS–925 40.87199 -73.50356 AE 6.3 8.8 9.8 12.0 11 10/30/2012 10.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.9 Excellent Excellent seed line on back of house

91 HWM–NY–NAS–926 40.88895 -73.50922 X -- -- -- 12.0 -- 10/30/2012 9.8 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on lawn

92 19HWM–NY–NAS–927 40.87615 -73.48767 VE 6.3 8.7 10.4 12.0 17 10/29/2012 9.5 <100 >1 2.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on shed

93 19HWM–NY–NAS–928 40.87341 -73.51669 AE 6.3 8.8 9.9 12.0 10 10/30/2012 10.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.2 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

94 19HWM–NY–NAS–929 40.88239 -73.54598 AE 6.3 8.7 9.9 12.0 10 10/30/2012 9.6 90 1.1 3.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on tree

95 HWM–NY–NAS–930 40.90515 -73.54333 X -- -- -- 12.0 -- 10/30/2012 10.0 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line

96 19HWM–NY–NAS–931 40.91413 -73.52602 AE 6.3 8.7 9.8 12.0 10 10/30/2012 9.8 100 1.0 0.0 Good Good debris line on lawn

97 HWM–NY–NAS–932 40.90336 -73.51229 X -- -- -- 12.0 -- 10/30/2012 9.7 <500 >0.2 1.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on back of building

98 HWM–NY–NAS–933 40.88625 -73.53246 AE 6.3 8.7 9.4 12.0 11 10/30/2012 10.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of garage

99 HWM–NY–NAS–934 40.91038 -73.53987 AE 6.3 8.7 9.4 12.0 10 10/30/2012 8.1 40 2.5 0.7 Good Good seed line on side of fence

100 HWM–NY–NAS–935 40.91084 -73.55811 X -- -- -- 12.0 -- 10/30/2012 11.1 <500 >0.2 1.7 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

101 8HWM–NY–NAS–936 40.90816 -73.58157 AO 6.3 8.7 9.4 12.0 10 10/30/2012 10.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on fence

102 19HWM–NY–NAS–938 40.89152 -73.63566 AE 6.7 8.9 11.4 13.0 11 10/30/2012 10.0 70 1.4 1.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on door

103 19HWM–NY–NAS–939 40.89939 -73.62746 AE 6.4 8.8 12.7 13.0 15 10/30/2012 9.9 60 1.7 0.8 Good Good seed line on tree
56 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 57

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

5,7Nassau County—Continued

104 19HWM–NY–NAS–940 40.80471 -73.64963 AE 7.3 10.2 11.2 13.5 13 10/30/2012 10.2 50 2.0 0.9 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of building

105 HWM–NY–NAS–941 40.82358 -73.64658 X -- -- -- 13.5 -- 10/30/2012 10.2 <500 >0.2 0.8 Excellent Excellent seed line 

106 HWM–NY–NAS–942 40.85112 -73.65046 X -- -- -- 13.5 -- 10/30/2012 10.9 <500 >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on beach

107 HWM–NY–NAS–954 40.61020 -73.43005 X -- -- -- 12.6 -- 10/29/2012 7.1 <500 >0.2 1.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on building

108 HWM–NY–NAS–955 40.62021 -73.55973 X -- -- -- 8.6 -- 10/29/2012 8.7 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line

109 19HWM–NY–NAS–964 40.89678 -73.60560 AE 6.3 8.7 11.3 12.4 12 10/30/2012 7.7 30 3.3 2.2 Good Good seed line on inside corner of back of house

 9,10,11New York City

127 HWM–NY–BRO–804 40.84280 -73.92900 AE 5.8 8.1 8.9 11.4 8.9 10/30/2012 9.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

128 HWM–NY–BRO–805 40.82300 -73.93220 AE 7.7 9.3 10.2 13.0 9.9 10/30/2012 9.9 80 1.3 0.0 Good Good mud line on concrete path

129 HWM–NY–BRO–807 40.80470 -73.90230 VE 7.4 9.3 10.3 13.0 13.9 10/30/2012 10.6 <100 >1 1.0 Good Good seed line inside guard booth

130 HWM–NY–BRO–808 40.80700 -73.87000 VE 8.7 11.0 12.2 15.6 14.9 10/30/2012 10.3 <100 >1 0.0 Good Good debris line in grass field

131 HWM–NY–BRO–809 40.81540 -73.83860 AE 8.6 10.9 12.1 15.1 13.9 10/30/2012 10.7 50 2.0 3.4 Fair Fair debris line on fence

132 HWM–NY–BRO–810 40.80920 -73.80370 AE 8.7 11.1 12.4 15.4 13.9 10/30/2012 10.4 40 2.5 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass

133 HWM–NY–BRO–811 40.86470 -73.80200 AE 8.8 11.3 12.6 15.7 12.9 10/30/2012 10.2 30 3.3 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass

134 HWM–NY–KIN–001 40.64076 -74.03564 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 11.3 >500 <0.2 0.4 Good Good seed line on inside door to shed

135 HWM–NY–KIN–002 40.71637 -73.92492 AE 6.1 7.7 8.5 10.9 8.9 10/30/2012 10.9 500 0.2 2.2 Good Good mud line on door of building

136 HWM–NY–KIN–003 40.64454 -73.88815 X -- -- -- 8.6 -- 10/30/2012 11.0 >500 <0.2 4.1 Good Good seed line on garage door of house

137 HWM–NY–KIN–504 40.70396 -73.99049 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 11.3 >500 <0.2 4.4 Good Good seed line in window of Bubby’s Restaurant and Bar

138 HWM–NY–KIN–510 40.71887 -73.96524 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 2.6 Good Good seed line inside of office building

139 HWM–NY–KIN–511 40.66879 -74.00956 AE 6.3 7.8 8.6 10.7 9.9 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 4.1 Good Good mud line on metal door inside concrete building

140 HWM–NY–KIN–604 40.70400 -73.98944 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 11.0 >500 <0.2 1.6 Good Good seed line on front of building

141 HWM–NY–KIN–605 40.70400 -73.98944 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 -- Good Good seed line on back of guard booth

142 HWM–NY–KIN–715 40.57941 -74.01118 X -- -- -- 10.8 -- 10/29/2012 12.4 >500 <0.2 -- Excellent Excellent mud line on outside of house

143 HWM–NY–KIN–724 40.66524 -74.01270 AE 6.3 7.8 8.6 10.7 9.9 10/29/2012 11.3 >500 <0.2 3.6 Good Good seed line on side of building

144 HWM–NY–KIN–725 40.67541 -73.99099 AE 6.3 7.8 8.6 10.7 8.9 10/29/2012 9.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.2 Excellent Excellent mud line on side of building

145 HWM–NY–KIN–900 40.66725 -74.00001 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 11.0 >500 <0.2 -- Fair Fair debris line on chain link fence

146 HWM–NY–KIN–901 40.66111 -74.00556 AE 6.3 7.8 8.6 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 3.0 Fair Fair wash line in compost

147 HWM–NY–KIN–902 40.65583 -74.01619 AE 6.3 7.8 8.6 10.7 9.9 10/30/2012 11.5 >500 <0.2 4.5 Fair Fair seed line on trailer

148 HWM–NY–KIN–903 40.61089 -74.03629 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 12.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line

149 HWM–NY–KIN–904 40.59519 -74.00007 X -- -- -- 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 11.5 >500 <0.2 1.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on wall inside building

150 HWM–NY–KIN–905 40.58019 -73.99792 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 11.5 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line around hill side

151 HWM–NY–KIN–906 40.58940 -73.92607 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 7.9 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 4.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

152 HWM–NY–KIN–908 40.60743 -73.89626 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 8.9 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 3.6 Good Good seed line on trailer

153 HWM–NY–KIN–909 40.65948 -73.86370 X -- -- -- 8.6 -- 10/30/2012 10.0 >500 <0.2 1.1 Excellent Excellent mud line on inside of security hut

154 HWM–NY–NEW–001 40.77760 -73.94250 AE 7.0 8.0 9.7 12.3 9.9 10/30/2012 10.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.4 Poor Poor debris line in ornamental grass

155 HWM–NY–NEW–002 40.82800 -73.95420 AE 6.2 7.7 8.5 10.6 8.9 10/30/2012 9.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on lawn

156 HWM–NY–NEW–003 40.74070 -74.01170 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 12.3 >500 <0.2 -- Fair Fair mud line on interior wall of fire house

157 HWM–NY–NEW–004 40.76312 -74.00047 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 10.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.6 Excellent Excellent seed line on building

158 HWM–NY–NEW–005 40.74013 -73.97328 AE 6.1 7.7 8.5 10.9 8.9 10/30/2012 10.8 500 0.2 2.5 Good Good debris line on fence

159 HWM–NY–NEW–008 40.69035 -74.04692 -- 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 11.3 >500 <0.2 4.1 Excellent Excellent seed line inside of maintenance room

160 HWM–NY–NEW–009 40.68971 -74.04387 -- 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 11.4 >500 <0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line near base of Statue of Liberty

161 HWM–NY–NEW–010 40.69912 -74.03992 -- 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 11.1 >500 <0.2 -- Good Good seed line inside door of Immigration Museum

162 HWM–NY–NEW–011 40.69938 -74.03867 -- 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 11.1 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass hill

163 HWM–NY–NEW–012 40.69086 -74.01246 AE 6.4 7.9 8.7 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 11.0 >500 <0.2 2.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on glass door inside brick building

164 HWM–NY–NEW–013 40.68527 -74.02489 AE 6.4 7.9 8.7 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 2.0 Excellent Excellent seed line inside shed

165 HWM–NY–NEW–100 40.70110 -74.01560 VE 6.4 7.9 8.6 10.8 12.9 10/30/2012 11.6 <100 >1 -- Good Good mud line on outside window of building
58 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 59

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

9,10,11New York City

166 HWM–NY–NEW–101 40.70110 -74.01500 VE 6.4 7.9 8.6 10.8 11.9 10/30/2012 11.4 <100 >1 -- Good Good mud line on patio of building

167 HWM–NY–NEW–102 40.70440 -74.01690 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 9.9 10/30/2012 10.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 -- Good Good mud line inside steel storage container

168 HWM–NY–NEW–103 40.70440 -74.01670 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 11.0 >500 <0.2 -- Fair Fair seed line on wooden construction wall

169 HWM–NY–NEW–104 40.70310 -74.00690 VE 6.4 7.9 8.6 10.8 11.9 10/30/2012 11.3 <100 >1 -- Good Good seed line inside window of ferry terminal building

170 HWM–NY–NEW–105 40.70500 -74.00670 AE 6.4 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 11.1 >500 <0.2 -- Fair Fair seed line on outside wall of building

171 HWM–NY–NEW–106 40.70500 -74.00670 AE 6.4 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 -- Fair Fair seed line on outside wall of building

172 HWM–NY–NEW–107 40.70500 -74.00640 AE 6.4 7.9 8.6 10.8 9.9 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 -- Fair Fair mud line on inside window of building

173 HWM–NY–NEW–108 40.70780 -74.00390 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 11.1 >500 <0.2 -- Good Good seed line on outside door of Post Office

174 HWM–NY–NEW–109 40.70780 -74.00110 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 9.9 10/30/2012 11.0 >500 <0.2 -- Good Good seed line on outside wall of building

175 HWM–NY–NEW–110 40.70780 -74.00220 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 9.9 10/30/2012 11.1 >500 <0.2 -- Good Good mud line on outside door of building

176 HWM–NY–NEW–111 40.70780 -74.00220 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 9.9 10/30/2012 11.1 >500 <0.2 -- Excellent Excellent mud line on outside window of building

177 HWM–NY–NEW–112 40.70970 -73.99530 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 -- Fair Fair seed and mud line on outside wall of building

178 HWM–NY–NEW–113 40.71080 -73.97810 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on park lawn

179 HWM–NY–NEW–114 40.71080 -73.97810 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass hill in park

180 HWM–NY–NEW–115 40.71080 -73.97810 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 -- Fair Fair seed line on tree in park

181 HWM–NY–NEW–116 40.71110 -73.97720 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass hill in park

182 HWM–NY–NEW–117 40.71110 -73.97720 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass hill in park

183 HWM–NY–NEW–118 40.71110 -73.97720 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 11.0 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on hill in park under tree

184 HWM–NY–NEW–119 40.71110 -73.97720 AE 6.2 7.8 8.5 10.7 8.9 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on park sidewalk

185 HWM–NY–NEW–120 40.71640 -74.01610 X -- -- -- 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass

186 HWM–NY–NEW–121 40.71640 -74.01670 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor wash line on mulch

187 HWM–NY–NEW–122 40.71810 -74.01470 X -- -- -- 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 11.3 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line in garden

188 HWM–NY–NEW–123 40.71830 -74.01500 X -- -- -- 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 11.1 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line in garden

189 HWM–NY–NEW–124 40.71690 -74.01190 X -- -- -- 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 1.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on loading dock

190 HWM–NY–NEW–125 40.71690 -74.01250 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 10.6 500 0.2 1.5 Fair Fair seed line on outside door of building

191 HWM–NY–NEW–126 40.71640 -74.01360 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 9.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.3 Good Good seed line on outside wall of building

192 HWM–NY–NEW–127 40.71310 -74.01390 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 9.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.7 Good Good mud line on window of building

193 HWM–NY–NEW–128 40.72080 -74.01140 X -- -- -- 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 10.8 500 0.2 1.0 Excellent Excellent mud line on outside door of building

194 HWM–NY–NEW–802 40.87700 -73.92600 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 9.5 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on beach

195 HWM–NY–NEW–803 40.86800 -73.91190 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 9.0 <500 >0.2 2.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on guard booth

196 HWM–NY–NEW–806 40.79660 -73.91550 AE 8.1 10.2 11.4 14.3 12.9 10/30/2012 11.1 90 1.1 3.1 Fair Fair debris line on side of fence

197 HWM–NY–NEW–981 40.80059 -73.92647 AE 7.7 9.3 10.2 13.0 9.9 10/30/2012 10.3 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.8 Fair Fair seed line inside storage container inside chain link fenced area of New York Police 

Department marina

198 HWM–NY–QUE–001 40.71556 -73.92056 AE 6.1 7.7 8.5 10.9 8.9 10/30/2012 10.9 500 0.2 6.0 Excellent Excellent mud line on door of storage container

199 HWM–NY–QUE–006 40.74922 -73.84072 AE 8.1 10.2 11.4 14.5 11.9 10/30/2012 7.8 <10 >10 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on lawn

200 HWM–NY–QUE–007 40.59296 -73.79644 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 6.9 10/30/2012 10.7 >500 <0.2 4.5 Good Good debris line on fence

201 HWM–NY–QUE–501 40.77994 -73.74918 VE 8.9 11.4 12.7 15.6 13.9 10/30/2012 10.3 <100 >1 3.5 Good Good seed line on power pole in park

202 HWM–NY–QUE–502 40.77994 -73.74918 VE 8.9 11.4 12.7 15.6 13.9 10/30/2012 10.3 <100 >1 2.1 Good Good seed line on house garage

203 HWM–NY–QUE–503 40.79284 -73.84929 AE 8.6 10.9 12.1 15.1 13.9 10/30/2012 10.1 40 2.5 0.0 Good Good wash line in park

204 HWM–NY–QUE–505 40.74169 -73.95904 AE 6.1 7.7 8.5 10.9 8.9 10/30/2012 10.7 500 0.2 5.0 Good Good seed line on Amtrak facility

205 HWM–NY–QUE–506 40.77227 -73.93600 AE 7.0 8.0 9.7 12.3 9.9 10/30/2012 10.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.0 Good Good seed line on windows and brick of apartment building

206 HWM–NY–QUE–507 40.66155 -73.84439 X -- -- -- 8.6 -- 10/30/2012 10.9 >500 <0.2 2.5 Good Good seed line on fence

207 HWM–NY–QUE–508 40.65267 -73.84222 X -- -- -- 8.6 -- 10/30/2012 10.8 >500 <0.2 2.7 Good Good seed line on fence

208 HWM–NY–QUE–509 40.78615 -73.91531 AE 7.4 9.3 10.3 13.0 10.9 10/30/2012 10.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor wash line on green space in park

209 HWM–NY–QUE–520 40.79645 -73.82899 VE 8.6 10.9 12.1 15.1 14.9 10/30/2012 10.8 <100 >1 0.3 Poor Poor debris line on seawall
60 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 61

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

 9,10,11New York City—Continued

210 HWM–NY–QUE–521 40.79351 -73.78057 AE 8.8 11.3 12.6 15.6 12.9 10/30/2012 10.6 40 2.5 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass

211 HWM–NY–QUE–603 40.75974 -73.84864 AE 8.1 10.2 11.4 14.5 12.9 10/30/2012 10.5 60 1.7 0.0 Poor Poor debris line in parking lot

212 HWM–NY–QUE–713 40.61659 -73.82547 X -- -- -- 8.6 -- 10/29/2012 10.3 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line 

213 HWM–NY–QUE–714 40.60587 -73.82204 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 7.9 10/29/2012 10.3 >500 <0.2 1.3 Excellent Excellent mud line on wall inside house

214 HWM–NY–QUE–726 40.56779 -73.88247 X -- -- -- 9.9 -- 10/30/2012 10.5 >500 <0.2 0.0 Excellent Excellent debris line

215 HWM–NY–QUE–727 40.56537 -73.88331 X -- -- -- 9.9 -- 10/30/2012 10.8 >500 <0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line in parking lot

216 HWM–NY–QUE–728 40.56111 -73.91431 AE 5.5 7.0 7.8 9.9 7.9 10/29/2012 10.7 >500 <0.2 3.6 Excellent Excellent mud line on wall inside building

217 HWM–NY–QUE–729 40.55532 -73.92529 AE 5.5 7.0 7.8 9.9 8.9 10/30/2012 12.7 >500 <0.2 5.4 Excellent Excellent mud line on side of house

218 HWM–NY–QUE–730 40.57632 -73.85982 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 6.9 10/30/2012 11.2 >500 <0.2 5.4 Excellent Excellent wash line in front of building

219 HWM–NY–QUE–731 40.58243 -73.83450 X -- -- -- 8.6 -- 10/30/2012 10.3 >500 <0.2 -- Fair Fair mud line on wall

220 HWM–NY–QUE–732 40.59512 -73.74139 AE 6.3 8.0 8.7 11.1 9.9 10/30/2012 9.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 -- Good Good seed line on side of building

221 HWM–NY–QUE–907 40.56704 -73.88283 X -- -- -- 9.9 -- 10/30/2012 11.0 >500 <0.2 4.2 Excellent Excellent seed line on inside of doorway

222 HWM–NY–QUE–910 40.63739 -73.74588 AE 4.9 6.1 6.8 8.6 6.9 10/30/2012 10.6 >500 <0.2 4.6 Good Good seed line on inside side of concrete wall

223 HWM–NY–RIC–001 40.59244 -74.16630 A 5.4 6.9 7.5 9.3 -- 10/30/2012 12.3 >500 <0.2 4.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on wall of garage

224 HWM–NY–RIC–701 40.58222 -74.09851 AE 6.3 7.9 8.6 10.8 8.9 10/30/2012 12.5 >500 <0.2 4.7 Fair Fair seed line on side of fence

225 HWM–NY–RIC–702 40.50242 -74.25388 X -- -- -- 11.2 -- 10/30/2012 13.1 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass

226 HWM–NY–RIC–703 40.49965 -74.24120 AE 6.7 8.4 9.2 11.3 10.0 10/29/2012 13.2 >500 <0.2 5.5 Fair Fair seed line on side of fence

227 HWM–NY–RIC–704 40.50235 -74.23121 X -- -- -- 11.3 -- 10/29/2012 13.2 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on lawn

228 HWM–NY–RIC–705 40.51544 -74.19444 X -- -- -- 11.3 -- 10/30/2012 13.0 >500 <0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on lawn

229 HWM–NY–RIC–716 40.51153 -74.21036 X -- -- -- 11.3 -- 10/30/2012 13.1 >500 <0.2 1.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on wooden guard rail

230 HWM–NY–RIC–717 40.52844 -74.15887 X -- -- -- 11.2 -- 10/30/2012 16.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on grass

231 HWM–NY–RIC–718 40.55526 -74.11662 AE 6.4 8.0 8.8 10.9 9.9 10/30/2012 12.5 >500 <0.2 7.9 Excellent Excellent seed line on door frame of house

232 HWM–NY–RIC–719 40.59386 -74.06829 X -- -- -- 10.8 -- 10/30/2012 12.7 >500 <0.2 2.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on garage door

233 HWM–NY–RIC–720 40.61564 -74.06305 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 15.3 >500 <0.2 0.0 Excellent Excellent debris line

234 HWM–NY–RIC–721 40.63772 -74.07386 X -- -- -- 10.7 -- 10/30/2012 11.7 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line

235 HWM–NY–RIC–722 40.64679 -74.08955 X -- -- -- 9.8 -- 10/30/2012 11.7 >500 <0.2 0.0 Excellent Excellent debris line

236 HWM–NY–RIC–723 40.64117 -74.13595 X -- -- -- 8.4 -- 10/30/2012 11.5 >500 <0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on lawn

237 HWM–NY–RIC–982 40.54583 -74.12383 X -- -- -- 10.9 -- 10/30/2012 14.0 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line in grass

12New York City

127 HWM–NY–BRO–804 40.84280 -73.92900 AE 6.7 9.0 10.0 12.4 10 10/30/2012 9.7 90 1.1 2.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

128 HWM–NY–BRO–805 40.82300 -73.93220 AE 7.2 9.5 10.4 12.6 10 10/30/2012 9.9 70 1.4 0.0 Good Good mud line on concrete path

129 HWM–NY–BRO–807 40.80470 -73.90230 VE 9.3 11.9 12.9 15.1 15 10/30/2012 10.6 <100 >1 1.0 Good Good seed line inside guard booth

130 HWM–NY–BRO–808 40.80700 -73.87000 AE 9.6 12.0 13.0 15.2 14 10/30/2012 10.3 20 5.0 0.0 Good Good debris line in grass field

131 HWM–NY–BRO–809 40.81540 -73.83860 AE 9.6 12.0 12.9 14.8 14 10/30/2012 10.7 30 3.3 3.4 Fair Fair debris line on fence

132 HWM–NY–BRO–810 40.80920 -73.80370 VE 9.7 12.0 12.9 14.8 16 10/30/2012 10.4 <100 >1 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass

133 HWM–NY–BRO–811 40.86470 -73.80200 AE 9.8 12.2 13.1 15.1 13 10/30/2012 10.2 20 5.0 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass

134 HWM–NY–KIN–001 40.64076 -74.03564 AE 7.0 10.0 11.4 14.8 12 10/30/2012 11.3 100 1.0 0.4 Good Good seed line on inside door to shed

135 HWM–NY–KIN–002 40.71637 -73.92492 AE 6.9 9.0 10.2 12.8 10 10/30/2012 10.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.2 Good Good mud line on door of building

136 HWM–NY–KIN–003 40.64454 -73.88815 AE 6.7 9.8 10.1 13.1 10 10/30/2012 11.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.1 Good Good seed line on garage door of house

137 HWM–NY–KIN–504 40.70396 -73.99049 AE 6.6 9.6 11.0 14.3 13 10/30/2012 11.3 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.4 Good Good seed line in window of Bubby’s Restaurant and Bar

138 HWM–NY–KIN–510 40.71887 -73.96524 AE 6.8 9.5 10.8 13.9 12 10/30/2012 11.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.6 Good Good seed line inside of office building

139 HWM–NY–KIN–511 40.66879 -74.00956 AE 7.3 9.8 11.2 14.8 13 10/30/2012 11.2 100 1.0 4.1 Good Good mud line on metal door inside concrete building

140 HWM–NY–KIN–604 40.70400 -73.98944 AE 6.7 9.6 10.7 14.1 12 10/30/2012 11.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.6 Good Good seed line on front of building

141 HWM–NY–KIN–605 40.70400 -73.98944 AE 6.7 9.6 10.7 14.1 12 10/30/2012 10.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 -- Good Good seed line on back of guard booth

142 HWM–NY–KIN–715 40.57941 -74.01118 AE 7.0 9.9 11.4 15.0 12 10/29/2012 12.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 -- Excellent Excellent mud line on outside of house

143 HWM–NY–KIN–724 40.66524 -74.01270 AE 6.9 9.9 11.3 14.8 13 10/29/2012 11.3 100 1.0 3.6 Good Good seed line on side of building

144 HWM–NY–KIN–725 40.67541 -73.99099 AE 6.6 8.8 10.3 13.8 11 10/29/2012 9.8 80 1.3 3.2 Excellent Excellent mud line on side of building
62 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 63

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

 12New York City—Continued

145 HWM–NY–KIN–900 40.66725 -74.00001 AE 6.6 9.7 11.2 14.7 12 10/30/2012 11.0 90 1.1 -- Fair Fair debris line on chain link fence

146 HWM–NY–KIN–901 40.66111 -74.00556 AE 6.9 9.7 11.2 14.6 12 10/30/2012 11.2 100 1.0 3.0 Fair Fair wash line in compost

147 HWM–NY–KIN–902 40.65583 -74.01619 AE 6.7 9.9 11.3 14.8 13 10/30/2012 11.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.5 Fair Fair seed line on trailer

148 HWM–NY–KIN–903 40.61089 -74.03629 AE 7.1 10.0 11.3 14.7 11 10/30/2012 12.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line

149 HWM–NY–KIN–904 40.59519 -74.00007 AE 7.0 9.8 10.8 14.5 11 10/30/2012 11.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on wall inside building

150 HWM–NY–KIN–905 40.58019 -73.99792 AE 7.0 9.7 11.0 14.2 12 10/30/2012 11.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line around hill side

151 HWM–NY–KIN–906 40.58940 -73.92607 AE 6.6 9.5 10.5 13.6 10 10/30/2012 10.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

152 HWM–NY–KIN–908 40.60743 -73.89626 AE 6.7 9.1 10.2 13.0 11 10/30/2012 11.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.6 Good Good seed line on trailer

153 HWM–NY–KIN–909 40.65948 -73.86370 AE 6.5 9.0 10.3 13.0 10 10/30/2012 10.0 90 1.1 1.1 Excellent Excellent mud line on inside of security hut

154 HWM–NY–NEW–001 40.77760 -73.94250 AE 8.2 10.8 11.9 14.6 15 10/30/2012 10.4 40 2.5 2.4 Poor Poor debris line in ornamental grass

155 HWM–NY–NEW–002 40.82800 -73.95420 AE 5.8 8.4 9.7 12.9 10 10/30/2012 9.5 90 1.1 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on lawn

156 HWM–NY–NEW–003 40.74070 -74.01170 VE 6.6 9.4 10.9 14.3 16 10/30/2012 12.3 <100 >1 -- Fair Fair mud line on interior wall of fire house

157 HWM–NY–NEW–004 40.76312 -74.00047 AE 6.6 9.2 10.6 14.1 12 10/30/2012 10.4 90 1.1 2.6 Excellent Excellent seed line on building

158 HWM–NY–NEW–005 40.74013 -73.97328 AE 7.0 9.7 10.9 14.0 12 10/30/2012 10.8 90 1.1 2.5 Good Good debris line on fence

159 HWM–NY–NEW–008 40.69035 -74.04692 VE 6.9 10.0 11.4 15.0 14 10/30/2012 11.3 <100 >1 4.1 Excellent Excellent seed line inside of maintenance room

160 HWM–NY–NEW–009 40.68971 -74.04387 AE 6.9 9.9 11.3 14.7 12 10/30/2012 11.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line near base of Statue of Liberty

161 HWM–NY–NEW–010 40.69912 -74.03992 AE 6.9 9.8 11.3 14.9 12 10/30/2012 11.1 90 1.1 -- Good Good seed line inside door of Immigration Museum

162 HWM–NY–NEW–011 40.69938 -74.03867 VE 6.9 10.3 11.3 14.7 13 10/30/2012 11.1 <100 >1 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass hill

163 HWM–NY–NEW–012 40.69086 -74.01246 AE 6.9 9.7 11.1 14.7 12 10/30/2012 11.0 100 1.0 2.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on glass door inside brick building

164 HWM–NY–NEW–013 40.68527 -74.02489 AE 6.9 9.8 11.2 14.8 12 10/30/2012 11.2 100 1.0 2.0 Excellent Excellent seed line inside shed

165 HWM–NY–NEW–100 40.70110 -74.01560 VE 6.9 9.9 11.4 15.0 16 10/30/2012 11.6 <100 >1 -- Good Good mud line on outside window of building

166 HWM–NY–NEW–101 40.70110 -74.01500 VE 6.9 9.9 11.3 14.9 14 10/30/2012 11.4 <100 >1 -- Good Good mud line on patio of building

167 HWM–NY–NEW–102 40.70440 -74.01690 AE 6.5 9.9 11.2 14.8 12 10/30/2012 10.0 50 2.0 -- Good Good mud line inside steel storage container

168 HWM–NY–NEW–103 40.70440 -74.01670 AE 6.5 9.9 11.1 14.8 12 10/30/2012 11.0 100 1.0 -- Fair Fair seed line on wooden construction wall

169 HWM–NY–NEW–104 40.70310 -74.00690 VE 6.8 9.8 11.2 14.8 15 10/30/2012 11.3 <100 >1 -- Good Good seed line inside window of ferry terminal building

170 HWM–NY–NEW–105 40.70500 -74.00670 AE 6.6 9.8 11.2 14.8 12 10/30/2012 11.1 100 1.0 -- Fair Fair seed line on outside wall of building

171 HWM–NY–NEW–106 40.70500 -74.00670 AE 6.6 9.8 11.2 14.8 12 10/30/2012 11.2 100 1.0 -- Fair Fair seed line on outside wall of building

172 HWM–NY–NEW–107 40.70500 -74.00640 AE 6.6 9.8 11.2 14.8 12 10/30/2012 11.2 100 1.0 -- Fair Fair mud line on inside window of building

173 HWM–NY–NEW–108 40.70780 -74.00390 AE 6.6 9.8 11.2 14.7 12 10/30/2012 11.1 100 1.0 -- Good Good seed line on outside door of Post Office

174 HWM–NY–NEW–109 40.70780 -74.00110 AE 6.7 9.7 11.1 14.6 12 10/30/2012 11.0 100 1.0 -- Good Good seed line on outside wall of building

175 HWM–NY–NEW–110 40.70780 -74.00220 AE 6.7 9.8 11.2 14.6 12 10/30/2012 11.1 100 1.0 -- Good Good mud line on outside door of building

176 HWM–NY–NEW–111 40.70780 -74.00220 AE 6.7 9.8 11.2 14.6 12 10/30/2012 11.1 100 1.0 -- Excellent Excellent mud line on outside window of building

177 HWM–NY–NEW–112 40.70970 -73.99530 AE 6.8 9.7 11.0 14.5 13 10/30/2012 11.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 -- Fair Fair seed and mud line on outside wall of building

178 HWM–NY–NEW–113 40.71080 -73.97810 AE 6.8 9.6 10.8 13.9 12 10/30/2012 11.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on park lawn

179 HWM–NY–NEW–114 40.71080 -73.97810 AE 6.8 9.6 10.8 13.9 12 10/30/2012 10.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass hill in park

180 HWM–NY–NEW–115 40.71080 -73.97810 AE 6.8 9.6 10.8 13.9 12 10/30/2012 10.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 -- Fair Fair seed line on tree in park

181 HWM–NY–NEW–116 40.71110 -73.97720 VE 6.9 9.6 10.9 13.9 14 10/30/2012 10.9 <100 >1 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass hill in park

182 HWM–NY–NEW–117 40.71110 -73.97720 VE 6.9 9.6 10.9 13.9 14 10/30/2012 10.9 <100 >1 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass hill in park

183 HWM–NY–NEW–118 40.71110 -73.97720 VE 6.9 9.6 10.9 13.9 14 10/30/2012 11.0 <100 >1 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on hill in park under tree

184 HWM–NY–NEW–119 40.71110 -73.97720 VE 6.9 9.6 10.9 13.9 14 10/30/2012 10.9 <100 >1 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on park sidewalk

185 HWM–NY–NEW–120 40.71640 -74.01610 X -- -- -- 14.5 -- 10/30/2012 10.9 <500 >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass

186 HWM–NY–NEW–121 40.71640 -74.01670 X -- -- -- 14.5 -- 10/30/2012 10.9 <500 >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor wash line on mulch

187 HWM–NY–NEW–122 40.71810 -74.01470 X -- -- -- 14.4 -- 10/30/2012 11.3 <500 >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line in garden

188 HWM–NY–NEW–123 40.71830 -74.01500 X -- -- -- 14.4 -- 10/30/2012 11.1 <500 >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line in garden

189 HWM–NY–NEW–124 40.71690 -74.01190 AE 6.5 9.7 10.8 14.3 11 10/30/2012 10.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on loading dock
64 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 65

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

12New York City—Continued

190 HWM–NY–NEW–125 40.71690 -74.01250 AE 6.5 9.7 10.9 14.4 11 10/30/2012 10.6 90 1.1 1.5 Fair Fair seed line on outside door of building

191 HWM–NY–NEW–126 40.71640 -74.01360 AE 6.7 9.7 10.8 14.4 11 10/30/2012 9.8 50 2.0 4.3 Good Good seed line on outside wall of building

192 HWM–NY–NEW–127 40.71310 -74.01390 AE 6.8 9.8 10.4 14.3 11 10/30/2012 9.7 50 2.0 4.7 Good Good mud line on window of building

193 HWM–NY–NEW–128 40.72080 -74.01140 AE 7.5 9.6 11.0 14.5 11 10/30/2012 10.8 90 1.1 1.0 Excellent Excellent mud line on outside door of building

194 HWM–NY–NEW–802 40.87700 -73.92600 VE 5.6 8.2 9.4 12.5 12 10/30/2012 9.5 <100 >1 0.0 Good Good debris line on beach

195 HWM–NY–NEW–803 40.86800 -73.91190 AE 6.0 8.7 9.5 12.5 10 10/30/2012 9.0 70 1.4 2.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on guard booth

196 HWM–NY–NEW–806 40.79660 -73.91550 VE 9.4 11.9 12.9 15.3 16 10/30/2012 11.1 <100 >1 3.1 Fair Fair debris line on side of fence

197 HWM–NY–NEW–981 40.80059 -73.92647 AE 7.9 10.3 11.4 13.8 12 10/30/2012 10.3 50 2.0 3.8 Fair Fair seed line inside storage container inside chain link fenced area of New York Police 

Department marina

198 HWM–NY–QUE–001 40.71556 -73.92056 AE 6.9 8.9 10.1 12.7 10 10/30/2012 10.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 6.0 Excellent Excellent mud line on door of storage container

199 HWM–NY–QUE–006 40.74922 -73.84072 AE 9.2 10.9 11.5 12.6 12 10/30/2012 7.8 <10 >10 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on lawn

200 HWM–NY–QUE–007 40.59296 -73.79644 AE 6.5 8.3 9.2 11.8 9 10/30/2012 10.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.5 Good Good debris line on fence

201 HWM–NY–QUE–501 40.77994 -73.74918 AE 9.7 11.8 12.7 14.4 14 10/30/2012 10.3 20 5.0 3.5 Good Good seed line on power pole in park

202 HWM–NY–QUE–502 40.77994 -73.74918 AE 9.7 11.8 12.7 14.4 14 10/30/2012 10.3 20 5.0 2.1 Good Good seed line on house garage

203 HWM–NY–QUE–503 40.79284 -73.84929 AE 9.7 12.0 13.0 15.0 14 10/30/2012 10.1 20 5.0 0.0 Good Good wash line in park

204 HWM–NY–QUE–505 40.74169 -73.95904 AE 6.9 9.6 10.8 13.7 11 10/30/2012 10.7 100 1.0 5.0 Good Good seed line on Amtrak facility

205 HWM–NY–QUE–506 40.77227 -73.93600 AE 8.0 10.5 11.6 14.2 12 10/30/2012 10.9 70 1.4 4.0 Good Good seed line on windows and brick of apartment building

206 HWM–NY–QUE–507 40.66155 -73.84439 AE 6.5 8.8 9.9 12.8 10 10/30/2012 10.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.5 Good Good seed line on fence

207 HWM–NY–QUE–508 40.65267 -73.84222 AE 6.5 8.7 9.8 12.5 10 10/30/2012 10.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.7 Good Good seed line on fence

208 HWM–NY–QUE–509 40.78615 -73.91531 AE 9.0 11.4 12.5 14.9 14 10/30/2012 10.5 30 3.3 0.0 Poor Poor wash line on green space in park

209 HWM–NY–QUE–520 40.79645 -73.82899 VE 9.7 11.9 12.8 14.7 15 10/30/2012 10.8 <100 >1 0.3 Poor Poor debris line on seawall

210 HWM–NY–QUE–521 40.79351 -73.78057 VE 9.8 12.1 12.9 14.8 16 10/30/2012 10.6 <100 >1 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass

211 HWM–NY–QUE–603 40.75974 -73.84864 AE 9.7 12.0 12.9 14.9 14 10/30/2012 10.5 20 5.0 0.0 Poor Poor debris line in parking lot

212 HWM–NY–QUE–713 40.61659 -73.82547 X -- -- -- 12.0 -- 10/29/2012 10.3 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line 

213 HWM–NY–QUE–714 40.60587 -73.82204 AE 6.3 8.7 9.6 12.0 10 10/29/2012 10.3 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.3 Excellent Excellent mud line on wall inside house

214 HWM–NY–QUE–726 40.56779 -73.88247 AE 6.7 8.7 9.9 12.7 11 10/30/2012 10.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Excellent Excellent debris line

215 HWM–NY–QUE–727 40.56537 -73.88331 X 6.7 8.7 9.8 13.0 -- 10/30/2012 10.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line in parking lot

216 HWM–NY–QUE–728 40.56111 -73.91431 AE 6.7 9.3 10.6 13.7 12 10/29/2012 10.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.6 Excellent Excellent mud line on wall inside building

217 HWM–NY–QUE–729 40.55532 -73.92529 AE 6.5 9.5 11.0 14.7 11 10/30/2012 12.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 5.4 Excellent Excellent mud line on side of house

218 HWM–NY–QUE–730 40.57632 -73.85982 AE 6.6 8.9 10.0 12.6 10 10/30/2012 11.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 5.4 Excellent Excellent wash line in front of building

219 HWM–NY–QUE–731 40.58243 -73.83450 AE 6.5 8.6 9.6 12.1 10 10/30/2012 10.3 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 -- Fair Fair mud line on wall

220 HWM–NY–QUE–732 40.59512 -73.74139 AE 6.0 8.5 10.0 14.0 11 10/30/2012 9.0 70 1.4 -- Good Good seed line on side of building

221 HWM–NY–QUE–907 40.56704 -73.88283 AE 6.7 8.5 9.8 12.7 11 10/30/2012 11.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.2 Excellent Excellent seed line on inside of doorway

222 HWM–NY–QUE–910 40.63739 -73.74588 AE 6.3 8.4 9.4 11.8 10 10/30/2012 10.6 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.6 Good Good seed line on inside side of concrete wall

223 HWM–NY–RIC–001 40.59244 -74.16630 AE 7.3 10.2 11.6 14.7 12 10/30/2012 12.3 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on wall of garage

224 HWM–NY–RIC–701 40.58222 -74.09851 AE 7.2 10.6 11.7 15.9 12 10/30/2012 12.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.7 Fair Fair seed line on side of fence

225 HWM–NY–RIC–702 40.50242 -74.25388 X -- -- -- 16.5 -- 10/30/2012 13.1 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass

226 HWM–NY–RIC–703 40.49965 -74.24120 AE 8.7 11.3 13.0 16.7 14 10/29/2012 13.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 5.5 Fair Fair seed line on side of fence

227 HWM–NY–RIC–704 40.50235 -74.23121 X -- -- -- 16.3 -- 10/29/2012 13.2 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on lawn

228 HWM–NY–RIC–705 40.51544 -74.19444 X -- -- -- 16.3 -- 10/30/2012 13.0 <500 >0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on lawn

229 HWM–NY–RIC–716 40.51153 -74.21036 X -- -- -- 16.2 -- 10/30/2012 13.1 <500 >0.2 1.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on wooden guard rail

230 HWM–NY–RIC–717 40.52844 -74.15887 X -- -- -- 15.8 -- 10/30/2012 16.9 >500 <0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on grass

231 HWM–NY–RIC–718 40.55526 -74.11662 AE 7.4 10.4 11.9 15.8 13 10/30/2012 12.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 7.9 Excellent Excellent seed line on door frame of house

232 HWM–NY–RIC–719 40.59386 -74.06829 X -- -- -- 15.5 -- 10/30/2012 12.7 <500 >0.2 2.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on garage door

233 HWM–NY–RIC–720 40.61564 -74.06305 X -- -- -- 14.7 -- 10/30/2012 15.3 >500 <0.2 0.0 Excellent Excellent debris line
66 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 67

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

 12New York City—Continued 

234 HWM–NY–RIC–721 40.63772 -74.07386 AE 7.1 10.2 11.3 14.9 12 10/30/2012 11.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line

235 HWM–NY–RIC–722 40.64679 -74.08955 AE 7.1 10.0 11.3 14.5 11 10/30/2012 11.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Excellent Excellent debris line

236 HWM–NY–RIC–723 40.64117 -74.13595 X -- -- -- 13.3 -- 10/30/2012 11.5 <500 >0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on lawn

237 HWM–NY–RIC–982 40.54583 -74.12383 X -- -- -- 15.8 -- 10/30/2012 14.0 <500 >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line in grass

 5,13Orange County

238 HWM–NY–ORA–001 41.50245 -74.00505 AE 5.6 6.3 7.3 8.8 7 10/30/2012 8.9 >500 <0.2 1.9 Good Good mud line on door of marina office building

239 HWM–NY–ORA–002 41.50418 -74.00480 AE 5.6 6.3 7.3 8.8 7 10/30/2012 8.9 >500 <0.2 3.0 Good Good seed line on inside of door to restroom of Newburgh Marina

240 HWM–NY–ORA–003 41.50464 -74.00516 X -- -- -- 8.8 -- 10/30/2012 9.0 >500 <0.2 0.0 Fair Fair wash line on ground in parking lot divider

241 HWM–NY–ORA–004 41.38333 -73.95555 AE 5.6 6.3 7.3 8.8 7 10/30/2012 8.6 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.2 Fair Fair seed line inside USGS streamgage—01374019—Hudson River at South Dock at 

West Point, NY

 3,14Rensselaer County 

242 20HWM–NY–REN–001 42.52867 -73.75733 A13 10.2 13.8 15.6 19.6 17.2 10/30/2012 10.0 <10 >10 2.6 Good Good seed line on steel post

243 21HWM–NY–REN–003 42.52869 -73.75786 A13 10.2 13.8 15.6 19.6 17.2 10/30/2012 10.1 <10 >10 2.2 Fair Fair seed and mud line on small shed

244 22HWM–NY–REN–004 42.52892 -73.75864 A13 10.2 13.8 15.6 19.6 17.2 10/30/2012 9.9 <10 >10 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grass

 5,15Rockland County

245 HWM–NY–ROC–001 41.23012 -73.97685 X -- -- -- 7.9 -- 10/30/2012 10.3 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on ground

246 HWM–NY–ROC–002 41.23009 -73.97685 X -- -- -- 7.9 -- 10/30/2012 9.4 >500 <0.2 2.0 Fair Fair seed line on back of house

247 HWM–NY–ROC–003 41.23006 -73.97678 X -- -- -- 7.9 -- 10/30/2012 8.6 >500 <0.2 1.5 Good Good seed line on inside of garage door

248 HWM–NY–ROC–004 41.22990 -73.97688 X -- -- -- 7.9 -- 10/30/2012 9.4 >500 <0.2 -- Excellent Excellent seed line on back of house in protected alcove

249 HWM–NY–ROC–005 41.22989 -73.97697 X -- -- -- 7.9 -- 10/30/2012 11.1 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on ground

250 HWM–NY–ROC–006 41.04324 -73.89656 VE 5.1 6.1 6.7 7.9 9 10/30/2012 9.7 >100 <1 4.1 Good Good seed line on interior wall of concrete instrument shelter

5,16Suffolk County

279 HWM–NY–SUF–001 41.06098 -72.36782 X -- -- -- 9.0 -- 10/30/2012 6.6 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line in yard

280 HWM–NY–SUF–002 41.07394 -72.31890 X -- -- -- 9.8 -- 10/30/2012 6.2 <500 >0.2 0.0 Excellent Excellent wash line 

281 HWM–NY–SUF–003 40.93250 -72.61556 X -- -- -- 9.6 -- 10/30/2012 7.2 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line in front of house

282 19HWM–NY–SUF–005 40.96522 -72.77187 VE 5.9 7.4 10.7 10.9 13 10/29/2012 9.1 <100 >1 3.6 Excellent Excellent mud line on garage door of house

283 HWM–NY–SUF–006 40.98249 -72.53289 X -- -- -- 9.6 -- 10/29/2012 6.7 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good wash line on lawn

284 HWM–NY–SUF–300 41.10103 -72.36118 VE 4.2 5.4 5.8 6.7 9 10/29/2012 6.4 <100 >1 0.0 Good Good debris line

285 HWM–NY–SUF–301 41.10095 -72.36161 VE 4.2 5.4 5.8 6.7 9 10/29/2012 6.4 <100 >1 1.2 Excellent Excellent seed line

286 19HWM–NY–SUF–302 41.13247 -72.25864 AE 4.0 5.2 8.1 9.8 8 10/29/2012 6.2 70 1.4 2.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on wall inside building

287 HWM–NY–SUF–303 41.14333 -72.31273 AE 4.2 5.4 5.8 6.7 11 10/29/2012 5.8 100 1.0 0.0 Good Good debris line 

288 HWM–NY–SUF–304 41.14331 -72.31243 AE 4.2 5.4 5.8 6.7 8 10/29/2012 6.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line

289 HWM–NY–SUF–305 41.13070 -72.32822 X -- -- -- 6.7 -- 10/29/2012 7.0 >500 <0.2 1.2 Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of garage

290 HWM–NY–SUF–306 41.13118 -72.32848 AE 4.2 5.4 5.8 6.7 7 10/29/2012 6.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.6 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

291 HWM–NY–SUF–307 40.98980 -72.47077 VE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 8 10/29/2012 7.1 <100 >1 1.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on back of house

292 HWM–NY–SUF–308 40.91593 -72.63776 X -- -- -- 9.6 -- 10/29/2012 8.6 <500 >0.2 0.0 Fair Fair debris line on shoulder of road

293 HWM–NY–SUF–401 40.74750 -72.85490 AE 4.8 6.0 6.4 7.0 7 10/30/2012 5.7 40 2.5 3.9 Excellent Excellent mud line on side of garage

294 HWM–NY–SUF–402 40.75050 -73.01370 AE 4.2 4.7 4.9 5.4 5 10/30/2012 5.8 >500 <0.2 1.6 Excellent Excellent mud line on side of shed

295 HWM–NY–SUF–403 40.68530 -73.27990 VE 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.8 7 10/30/2012 7.4 >100 <1 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grassy embankment

296 HWM–NY–SUF–404 40.65891 -73.26478 X -- -- -- 4.8 -- 10/30/2012 7.1 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on grassy embankment

297 HWM–NY–SUF–405 40.69120 -73.27720 AE 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.8 4 10/29/2012 5.8 >500 <0.2 2.9 Excellent Excellent mud line on side of fence

298 HWM–NY–SUF–406 40.70527 -73.25255 AE 3.7 4.2 4.3 4.6 4 10/29/2012 6.0 >500 <0.2 1.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

299 HWM–NY–SUF–407 40.71159 -73.24435 X -- -- -- 4.6 -- 10/29/2012 6.1 >500 <0.2 1.1 Excellent Excellent mud line on front of building

300 HWM–NY–SUF–408 40.91500 -72.66170 X -- -- -- 9.6 -- 10/29/2012 7.8 <500 >0.2 0.8 Good Good seed line on front of house

301 HWM–NY–SUF–409 40.90420 -72.61990 AE 4.8 6.1 6.7 9.6 8 10/30/2012 7.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.5 Excellent Excellent seed line inside building

302 HWM–NY–SUF–410 40.85040 -72.50380 AE 5.5 7.1 8.0 9.3 9 10/29/2012 6.6 40 2.5 1.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of building
68 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 69

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

5,16Suffolk County—Continued

303 HWM–NY–SUF–411 40.84480 -72.57250 AE 6.0 7.6 8.2 9.1 9 10/29/2012 6.9 30 3.3 1.7 Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of building

304 HWM–NY–SUF–412 40.81890 -72.62450 AE 5.6 7.2 7.7 8.7 9 10/30/2012 6.4 30 3.3 2.7 Good Good seed line on outside of garage

305 HWM–NY–SUF–413 40.78770 -72.74950 AE 5.0 6.2 6.8 7.8 7 10/30/2012 6.3 60 1.7 1.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of building

306 HWM–NY–SUF–415 40.77410 -72.81610 AE 5.2 6.5 6.9 7.5 8 10/29/2012 6.5 50 2.0 3.7 Good Good seed line on side of fence

307 HWM–NY–SUF–417 40.66300 -73.41300 AE 5.0 6.0 6.3 6.8 6 10/29/2012 7.5 >500 <0.2 3.8 Good Good seed line on side of house

308 19HWM–NY–SUF–418 40.63213 -73.21621 AE 4.3 4.8 8.0 5.2 9 10/29/2012 9.4 >500 <0.2 5.6 Good Good mud line inside garage

309 19HWM–NY–SUF–419 40.64400 -73.15700 VE 6.5 8.5 14.1 11.5 16 10/29/2012 8.0 <100 >1 3.7 Excellent Excellent mud line on outside of house

310 19HWM–NY–SUF–420 40.63455 -73.20305 AE 4.3 4.8 8.0 5.2 10 10/29/2012 4.2 <10 >10 2.3 Good Good mud line on fence

311 HWM–NY–SUF–421 40.87980 -72.44990 AE 5.3 7.4 8.6 10.3 9 10/29/2012 6.6 30 3.3 3.7 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

312 19HWM–NY–SUF–422 40.86900 -72.39200 AE 5.9 8.4 14.4 12.7 14 10/30/2012 7.9 40 2.5 0.5 Good Good mud line on door

313 19HWM–NY–SUF–424 41.00630 -72.03500 AE 3.5 4.9 8.0 7.2 10 10/29/2012 5.2 50 2.0 1.9 Excellent Excellent mud line on concrete wall

314 HWM–NY–SUF–425 41.07223 -71.93452 X -- -- -- 7.2 -- 10/29/2012 5.8 <500 >0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line in grass

315 19HWM–NY–SUF–426 41.05010 -71.95650 AE 3.5 4.9 7.9 7.2 10 10/29/2012 6.0 70 1.4 2.5 Good Good mud line on speed limit sign

316 HWM–NY–SUF–427 41.00390 -72.18660 AE 3.5 4.9 5.3 7.2 6 10/30/2012 6.1 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.4 Excellent Excellent mud line on cinder block wall

317 HWM–NY–SUF–428 41.00100 -72.29100 AE 5.2 6.2 6.5 9.8 7 10/30/2012 6.3 70 1.4 0.5 Excellent Excellent mud line on fence

318 HWM–NY–SUF–429 41.01360 -72.30320 AE 4.0 5.2 5.9 9.4 6 10/30/2012 6.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.1 Excellent Excellent mud line on side of house

319 HWM–NY–SUF–430 41.03710 -72.31970 AE 4.0 5.2 5.9 9.4 6 10/30/2012 6.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.9 Excellent Excellent mud line on wooden post

320 HWM–NY–SUF–431 40.99290 -72.31550 VE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 8 10/30/2012 6.3 <100 >1 1.8 Excellent Excellent mud line on post

321 HWM–NY–SUF–432 40.99370 -72.36290 AE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 7 10/30/2012 6.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.4 Excellent Excellent seed line on tree

322 HWM–NY–SUF–433 40.95980 -72.39820 AE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 6 10/30/2012 6.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 -- Excellent Excellent mud line on gate

323 HWM–NY–SUF–434 40.91720 -72.43950 AE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 7 10/30/2012 6.7 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.1 Excellent Excellent mud line on house

324 HWM–NY–SUF–435 40.89750 -72.46950 AE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 6 10/29/2012 6.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on shed

325 HWM–NY–SUF–436 40.89350 -72.50330 AE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 6 10/30/2012 6.3 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 -- Good Good mud line on house

326 19HWM–NY–SUF–506 40.96452 -72.86320 AE 5.9 7.4 10.5 10.8 12 10/30/2012 8.3 60 1.7 4.5 Poor Poor debris line on fence

327 19HWM–NY–SUF–507 40.96492 -72.86317 VE 5.9 7.4 10.5 10.8 13 10/30/2012 8.5 <100 >1 2.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on back of shed

328 HWM–NY–SUF–508 40.94574 -73.07198 AE 6.8 7.7 8.2 9.0 10 10/30/2012 8.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

329 HWM–NY–SUF–509 40.94574 -73.07198 AE 6.8 7.7 8.2 9.0 10 10/30/2012 8.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of building

330 HWM–NY–SUF–510 40.95115 -73.02948 AE 6.5 8.2 8.8 10.4 11 10/30/2012 8.6 80 1.3 2.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of garage

331 19HWM–NY–SUF–511 41.01220 -72.55640 AE 6.2 7.5 10.8 9.4 11 10/30/2012 7.8 50 2.0 1.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

332 HWM–NY–SUF–512 40.91617 -72.66119 AE 4.8 6.1 6.7 9.6 7 10/30/2012 8.1 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on basement door of building

333 HWM–NY–SUF–513 40.91617 -72.66119 AE 4.8 6.1 6.7 9.6 7 10/30/2012 8.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.6 Poor Poor seed line on back of building

334 HWM–NY–SUF–514 40.91746 -72.65535 AE 4.8 6.1 6.7 9.6 8 10/30/2012 7.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.3 Poor Poor seed line on door outside building

335 HWM–NY–SUF–516 40.91010 -72.55543 X -- -- -- 9.6 -- 10/30/2012 7.4 <500 >0.2 2.2 Excellent Excellent seed line on post

336 HWM–NY–SUF–517 40.90030 -73.35303 VE 7.1 8.2 8.9 10.5 12 10/30/2012 9.5 <100 >1 0.0 Fair High-water mark established by Seymour’s Boatyard operator

337 HWM–NY–SUF–600 40.74760 -73.15039 AE 4.2 4.6 4.8 5.2 5 10/29/2012 6.1 >500 <0.2 2.2 Excellent Excellent seed line inside USGS streamgage—01306499—Connetquot River near North 

Great River, NY

338 HWM–NY–SUF–601 40.92202 -73.44324 X -- -- -- 10.5 -- 10/29/2012 9.9 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good wash line on grass lawn

339 19HWM–NY–SUF–602 40.90728 -73.48357 VE 7.3 8.6 10.9 11.0 13 10/29/2012 9.5 <100 >1 2.4 Fair Fair debris line on tree

340 HWM–NY–SUF–603 40.89717 -73.43498 AE 7.1 8.2 8.9 10.5 11 10/29/2012 9.6 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line

341 HWM–NY–SUF–604 40.90536 -73.40283 AE 7.1 8.2 8.9 10.5 11 10/29/2012 9.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.4 Good Good seed line on fence

342 19HWM–NY–SUF–605 40.89243 -73.37453 AE 7.1 8.2 9.4 10.5 10 10/29/2012 9.6 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.4 Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of building

343 HWM–NY–SUF–606 40.92593 -73.35710 AE 7.1 8.2 8.9 10.5 11 10/30/2012 9.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on outside of building

344 HWM–NY–SUF–607 40.95410 -73.39812 AE 7.1 8.2 8.9 10.5 12 10/30/2012 10.0 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.8 Good Good seed line on outside of shed

345 19HWM–NY–SUF–608 40.92305 -73.29637 AE 7.1 8.2 11.2 10.5 11 10/29/2012 7.9 40 2.5 0.8 Good Good seed line on mailbox post

346 HWM–NY–SUF–609 40.89697 -73.22364 AE 6.9 8.3 8.8 10.4 10 10/29/2012 8.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.9 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

347 HWM–NY–SUF–610 40.92173 -73.14967 AE 6.8 8.2 8.7 10.3 10 10/29/2012 9.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.7 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence
70 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 71

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

 5,16Suffolk County—Continued

348 HWM–NY–SUF–611 40.95901 -73.02141 VE 6.5 8.2 8.8 10.4 12 10/29/2012 8.6 <100 >1 3.4 Excellent Excellent seed line on utility pole

349 19HWM–NY–SUF–612 40.98731 -72.61571 VE 5.9 7.4 11.0 10.9 14 10/29/2012 7.3 <100 >1 1.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on guard booth

350 19HWM–NY–SUF–613 40.99369 -72.53757 AE 6.2 7.5 9.2 9.4 8 10/29/2012 8.8 90 1.1 1.4 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

351 19HWM–NY–SUF–614 41.05346 -72.47309 AE 5.8 7.2 9.2 9.3 9 10/29/2012 7.7 60 1.7 2.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on mailbox post

352 HWM–NY–SUF–615 40.80359 -72.75011 X -- -- -- 7.9 -- 10/30/2012 6.5 <500 >0.2 0.0 Excellent Excellent debris line on lawn

353 HWM–NY–SUF–616 40.78509 -72.79888 AE 5.2 6.5 6.9 7.7 8 10/30/2012 6.5 50 2.0 1.1 Excellent Excellent seed line inside building

354 HWM–NY–SUF–617 40.79636 -72.83115 VE 5.2 6.5 6.9 7.5 10 10/29/2012 6.7 <100 >1 2.3 Good Good seed line inside shed

355 HWM–NY–SUF–618 40.75787 -72.83110 AE 5.2 6.5 6.9 7.5 8 10/29/2012 6.2 40 2.5 3.1 Good Good seed line on back of deck

356 HWM–NY–SUF–619 40.74395 -72.88202 AE 4.4 5.5 5.4 6.6 6 10/29/2012 4.8 20 5.0 2.1 Good Good seed line on side of fence

357 HWM–NY–SUF–620 40.75282 -72.93438 AE 4.0 4.8 5.2 5.9 6 10/29/2012 5.6 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on park wall

358 HWM–NY–SUF–621 40.66942 -73.36786 AE 4.4 5.0 5.3 5.8 5 10/29/2012 6.8 >500 <0.2 2.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on building

359 HWM–NY–SUF–622 40.67828 -73.33300 AE 3.9 4.6 4.8 5.2 6 10/29/2012 6.6 >500 <0.2 1.8 Excellent Excellent mud line on fence

360 HWM–NY–SUF–623 40.68781 -73.29053 X -- -- -- 4.9 -- 10/29/2012 6.2 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line

361 HWM–NY–SUF–626 40.70754 -73.18915 X -- -- -- 4.4 -- 10/29/2012 5.7 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line

362 HWM–NY–SUF–627 40.71995 -73.14118 X -- -- -- 4.9 -- 10/29/2012 5.5 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass

363 HWM–NY–SUF–628 40.72770 -73.14200 AE 4.2 4.6 4.8 5.2 5 10/29/2012 5.8 >500 <0.2 2.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on fence

364 HWM–NY–SUF–629 40.72188 -73.09145 AE 4.2 4.6 4.8 5.2 6 10/29/2012 5.4 >500 <0.2 1.9 Excellent Excellent mud line on building

365 HWM–NY–SUF–630 40.72998 -73.06380 AE 4.1 4.6 4.8 5.2 5 10/29/2012 5.5 >500 <0.2 1.2 Excellent Excellent seed line on utility pole

366 HWM–NY–SUF–631 40.73158 -73.03650 AE 4.2 4.7 4.9 5.3 5 10/29/2012 5.6 >500 <0.2 3.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on fence

367 HWM–NY–SUF–632 40.75041 -72.98137 AE 4.1 4.7 5.0 5.5 5 10/29/2012 5.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.4 Excellent Excellent mud line on fence

368 HWM–NY–SUF–633 40.79919 -72.69754 AE 4.8 6.0 6.9 8.1 7 10/29/2012 5.9 50 2.0 2.4 Good Good seed line on fence

369 HWM–NY–SUF–634 40.80731 -72.73361 AE 4.9 6.1 6.9 7.9 8 10/29/2012 6.5 80 1.3 0.0 Good Good wash line in front yard

370 HWM–NY–SUF–635 40.77322 -72.89910 AE 3.9 4.9 5.4 6.2 6 10/29/2012 5.2 80 1.3 1.4 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

371 HWM–NY–SUF–636 40.76451 -72.91386 AE 4.0 4.8 5.3 6.0 5 10/29/2012 5.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.6 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

372 HWM–NY–SUF–637 40.79022 -72.66212 AE 4.8 6.1 7.0 8.2 7 10/29/2012 6.4 70 1.4 1.4 Excellent Excellent seed line on fence

373 HWM–NY–SUF–638 40.80031 -72.62565 AE 5.4 6.9 7.6 8.7 8 10/29/2012 3.5 <10 >10 1.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of fence

374 19HWM–NY–SUF–639 40.81690 -72.56760 AE 6.0 7.6 11.0 9.1 12 10/29/2012 6.4 20 5.0 0.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on fence

375 HWM–NY–SUF–943 40.85846 -73.21036 AE 6.9 8.3 8.8 10.4 9 10/29/2012 8.6 80 1.3 0.6 Good Good seed line on fence

376 HWM–NY–SUF–944 40.88260 -73.19342 AE 6.9 8.3 8.8 10.4 9 10/29/2012 8.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on door of house

377 HWM–NY–SUF–945 40.64552 -73.26059 AE 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.8 5 10/29/2012 5.7 >500 <0.2 2.4 Excellent Excellent seed line on electrical box

378 HWM–NY–SUF–946 40.64172 -73.25313 AE 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.8 5 10/29/2012 5.4 >500 <0.2 1.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on front door of building

379 HWM–NY–SUF–948 40.62505 -73.26518 VE 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.8 7 10/29/2012 6.4 <100 >1 1.4 Excellent Excellent seed line on inside wall of building

380 HWM–NY–SUF–949 40.62819 -73.24333 AE 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.8 5 10/29/2012 5.6 >500 <0.2 0.0 Poor Poor debris line on path

381 HWM–NY–SUF–950 40.63977 -73.28816 AE 3.7 4.4 4.6 4.9 7 10/29/2012 7.8 >500 <0.2 5.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on post under back deck

382 HWM–NY–SUF–952 40.62002 -73.39252 AE 5.0 6.0 6.3 6.8 6 10/29/2012 8.9 >500 <0.2 4.3 Excellent Excellent seed line on back of house

383 HWM–NY–SUF–953 40.61515 -73.41682 AE 5.0 6.0 6.3 6.8 6 10/29/2012 7.5 >500 <0.2 1.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on garage

384 HWM–NY–SUF–956 40.66481 -73.42332 X -- -- -- 6.8 -- 10/29/2012 7.5 >500 <0.2 1.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on side of house

385 HWM–NY–SUF–957 41.11956 -72.33626 AE 4.2 5.4 5.8 6.7 6 10/29/2012 6.5 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on front of house

386 HWM–NY–SUF–958 41.08202 -72.38738 X -- -- -- 9.6 -- 10/29/2012 6.4 <500 >0.2 1.0 Good Good seed line on side of house

387 HWM–NY–SUF–959 41.03709 -72.39347 X -- -- -- 9.6 -- 10/29/2012 6.6 <500 >0.2 0.8 Good Good seed line on garage foundation

388 HWM–NY–SUF–960 41.03756 -72.42766 AE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 6 10/29/2012 6.9 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.1 Good Good seed line on gate

389 HWM–NY–SUF–961 40.95795 -72.54858 AE 4.0 5.2 5.5 9.6 6 10/29/2012 6.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.1 Good Good seed line on fence

390 HWM–NY–SUF–962 40.93516 -72.57569 AE 4.0 5.2 5.9 9.6 6 10/29/2012 7.8 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 2.6 Good Good mud line on shed

391 HWM–NY–SUF–965 40.63417 -73.34526 AE 4.1 4.8 5.0 5.5 5 10/29/2012 5.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 0.8 Excellent Excellent seed line on door inside maintenance garage

8,17Ulster County

393 HWM–NY–ULS–001 42.07166 -73.93855 AE 6.2 7.9 8.5 10.8 9 10/30/2012 9.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.0 Good Good seed line on back of shed behind 145 Lighthouse Drive

394 HWM–NY–ULS–002 42.07120 -73.93813 AE 6.2 7.9 8.5 10.8 9 10/30/2012 9.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.3 Good Good seed line on landward side of 146 Lighthouse drive
72 Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York Table 7 73

Table 7. Peak storm-tide elevations produced by Hurricane Sandy at 346 high-water-mark sites, and the corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency flood elevations for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year 

recurrence intervals) in New York.—Continued

[High-water-mark site locations are shown in figure 2. FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; no., number; GMT, Grenwich Mean Time; <, less than; >, greater than; &, and; --, no value; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site

FEMA flood elevations for selected annual exceedance probabilities (recurrence intervals), 

in feet above NAVD 88

Hurricane Sandy peak storm tide

Estimated 

date

(GMT)

Elevation, 

in feet 

above 

NAVD 88

Recurrence 

interval, 

in years

Annual 

exceedance 

probability, 

in percent

High-water mark

Stillwater flood elevation

1-percent 

(100-year) base flood 

elevation

Distance 

above 

ground, 

in feet

Map Rating Description and notes

no. Identifier

Latitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

Longitude, 

in decimal 

degrees

1

Coastal 

flood 

hazard zone 

10 percent 

(10 year)

2 percent

 (50 year)

1 percent 

(100 year)

0.2 percent 

(500 year)

8,17Ulster County—Continued 

395 HWM–NY–ULS–003 42.07149 -73.93701 AE 6.2 7.9 8.5 10.8 9 10/30/2012 9.4 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.8 Good Good seed line on handrail of U.S. Coast Guard post

396 HWM–NY–ULS–004 41.92900 -73.96844 AE 6.0 7.5 8.9 10.4 8 10/30/2012 9.3 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.9 Excellent Excellent seed line on large front window of 136 Delaware Avenue

397 HWM–NY–ULS–005 41.92898 -73.96849 AE 6.0 7.5 8.9 10.4 8 10/30/2012 9.3 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 4.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on siding of south side of 138 Delaware Avenue

398 HWM–NY–ULS–006 41.92904 -73.96852 AE 6.0 7.5 8.9 10.4 8 10/30/2012 9.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 3.1 Excellent Excellent seed line on west side of 138 Delaware Avenue

399 HWM–NY–ULS–007 41.92899 -73.96874 AE 6.0 7.5 8.9 10.4 8 10/30/2012 9.2 >100 & <500 <1 & >0.2 1.5 Excellent Excellent mud line on south side of 146 Delaware Avenue

5,18Westchester County 

403 HWM–NY–WES–001 41.15692 -73.86997 AE 5.3 6.3 6.8 8.0 7 10/30/2012 9.0 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass downstream of Metro North station

404 HWM–NY–WES–002 41.15573 -73.87005 AE 5.3 6.3 6.8 8.0 7 10/30/2012 9.0 >500 <0.2 2.4 Excellent Excellent seed line inside public bathroom

405 HWM–NY–WES–003 40.99874 -73.88460 AE 5.2 6.2 6.7 8.0 7 10/30/2012 8.9 >500 <0.2 1.9 Excellent Excellent seed line on upstream side of “Harvest-on-Hudson” restaurant

406 HWM–NY–WES–004 40.93719 -73.90311 AE 5.2 6.2 6.7 8.0 7 10/30/2012 9.0 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass on upstream side of Hudson Park at end of Wells Avenue

407 HWM–NY–WES–005 40.93732 -73.90304 AE 5.2 6.2 6.7 8.0 7 10/30/2012 9.0 >500 <0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass on upstream side of Hudson Park at end of Wells Avenue

408 HWM–NY–WES–006 40.93713 -73.90289 AE 5.2 6.2 6.7 8.0 7 10/30/2012 9.2 >500 <0.2 1.1 Fair Fair seed line on exterior of door on streamward side of 2 Alexander Street

409 HWM–NY–WES–800 40.94300 -73.72090 VE 8.7 11.3 12.5 16.8 14 10/30/2012 10.5 <100 >1 2.7 Excellent Excellent seed line in shower stall of Mamaroneck Yacht Club

410 HWM–NY–WES–801 40.89064 -73.78236 AE 8.5 11.1 12.8 16.1 12 10/30/2012 10.2 40 2.5 3.1 Excellent Excellent seed line inside steel container on dock

411 HWM–NY–WES–812 40.90870 -73.76860 X -- -- -- 16.1 -- 10/30/2012 11.8 <500 >0.2 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass hill

412 HWM–NY–WES–813 40.93170 -73.74470 AE 8.8 10.7 11.6 13.9 12 10/30/2012 10.1 40 2.5 0.0 Good Good debris line on grass berm

413 HWM–NY–WES–814 40.95581 -73.69257 AE 8.7 11.3 12.5 16.8 12 10/30/2012 10.2 30 3.3 2.5 Excellent Excellent seed line on wall of utility house

414 HWM–NY–WES–815 40.97857 -73.66560 AE 8.7 11.3 12.5 16.8 13 10/30/2012 9.8 30 3.3 3.0 Excellent Excellent seed line on wall inside building

415 HWM–NY–WES–980 40.94745 -73.73235 AE 8.8 10.7 11.6 13.9 13 10/30/2012 10.3 40 2.5 0.3 Good Good seed line on inside of concrete water supply

1

High-water marks (HWMs) from sites in VE zones (shaded gray) are likely to have been affected by wave heights of 3 feet (ft) or greater and, therefore, are comparable only to the base flood elevations; HWMs from sites in other coastal flood hazard zones (unshaded) will have been affected by wave heights less than 3 ft and, thus, are 

generally comparable to the corresponding stillwater elevations.

2

Stillwater flood elevations converted from units of feet above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) as reported in Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (1979, 1989).

3

Coastal flood hazard zones from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013c); base flood elevations converted from units of feet above NGVD 29 as reported in 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013c).

4

Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2012).

5

Coastal flood hazard zones and base flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b).

6

Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2008).

7

Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2009a).

8

Coastal flood hazard zones and base flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013c).

9

Stillwater flood elevations converted from units of feet above NGVD 29 as reported in Federal Emergency Management Agency (2007a).

10Coastal flood hazard zones from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b); base flood elevations converted from units of feet above NGVD 29 as reported 

in Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013b).

11Results not discussed in text or shown in figures.

12Coastal flood hazard zones and flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013e).

13Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2009b).

14Stillwater flood elevations converted from units of feet above NGVD 29 as reported in Federal Emergency Management Agency (1984).

15Stillwater flood elevations converted from units of feet above NGVD 29 as reported in Federal Emergency Management Agency (1981a, 1981b).

16Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2009c).

17Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2011).

18Stillwater flood elevations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (2007b).

19Stillwater flood elevation for 1-percent annual exceedance probability (100-year recurrence interval) includes wave setup.

20 High-water mark HWM–NY–REN–001 published previously as HWM–NY–COL–001.

21 High-water mark HWM–NY–REN–003 published previously as HWM–NY–COL–003. 

22 High-water mark HWM–NY–REN–004 published previously as HWM–NY–COL–004.

Glossary 75

Glossary

Annual exceedance probability (AEP) 

flood The 1-percent AEP flood has a 1 in 100 

chance of being equaled or exceeded in any 1 

year, and it has an average recurrence interval of 

100 years (see Holmes and Dinicola, 2010). The 

0.2-percent AEP flood has a 0.2 in 100 chance of 

being equaled or exceeded in any 1 year, and it 

has an average recurrence interval of 500 years.

Base flood elevation The elevation shown on 

the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) for zones 

AE, AH, A1–30, or VE that indicates the water 

surface elevation resulting from a flood that has a 

1-percent chance of occurring in any given year. 

In coastal areas, BFEs are calculated using four 

components: (1) the storm surge stillwater elevation, (2) the amount of wave setup, (3) the wave 

height above the storm surge stillwater elevation, 

and (4) the wave runup above the storm surge 

stillwater elevation (where present).

Flood hazard zone Flood hazard zones are lettered based on the level and type of flood risk:

Zone VE The area subject to high velocity 

wave action (a 3-foot breaking wave) from 

the 1-percent annual chance coastal flood.

Zone A/AE The area subject to inundation 

from the 1-percent annual chance flood. 

These areas are not subject to high velocity 

wave action but are still considered high 

risk flooding areas.

Zone X Areas of moderate coastal flood 

risk outside the regulatory 1-percent annual 

chance flood up to the 0.2-percent annual 

chance flood level.

Nor’easter Northeastern coastal storm.

Stillwater elevation The projected elevation 

of floodwaters in the absence of waves resulting from wind or seismic effects. In coastal 

areas, stillwater elevations are determined 

when modeling coastal storm surge; the 

results of overland wave modeling are used in 

conjunction with the stillwater elevations to 

develop the coastal base flood elevations.

Storm surge Water-level rise caused by a 

storm over and above the predicted astronomical tide.

Storm tide Water-level rise due to the combination of storm surge and the astronomical 

tide.

Streamgage Instrumentation used to measure 

water level and corresponding streamflow.

Tide gage Instrumentation used to measure 

coastal water level.

Wave runup The rush of water that extends 

inland when waves come ashore. Wave runup 

effects are computed as a part of the overland 

wave analysis and are added to the stillwater 

elevations computed from the storm surge 

model.

Wave setup The increase in the water level 

caused by the onshore mass transport of water 

that occurs due to waves breaking during a 

storm. Wave setup is affected by the wave 

height, the speed at which waves approach 

shore, and the nearshore slope.
For additional information write to:

Director, New York Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

2045 Route 112, Building 4

Coram, NY 11727

Information requests:

(518) 285-5602

or visit our Web site at:

http://ny.water.usgs.gov

Publishing support by: 

The Pembroke and West Trenton Publishing 

Service Centers.
Schubert and others—Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts From Hurricane Sandy in New York—Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5036

ISSN 2328–031X (print)

ISSN 2328-0328 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155036

Printed on recycled paper