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NOAA’s National Ocean Service

Hurricane Planning, Response, and Recovery

Positioning America for the Future

NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) brings a wealth of coastal science, management, and 

operational expertise to aid communities impacted by hurricanes in their recovery. NOS is 

on the front lines to help America understand, predict, and respond to the challenges facing 

our oceans and coasts. The following is a compilation of NOS’s roles and responsibilities 

related to preparedness, response, and recovery before, during, and after a hurricane.

For more information, including links to data and tools, please go to oceanservice.noaa.gov/

hazards/hurricanes/.

NOAA’s National Ocean Service

Navigation, Observations and Positioning

Office of Coast Survey

National Geodetic Survey 

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services 

NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System Program 

Coastal Science and Assessment

National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science 

Office of Response and Restoration 

Ocean and Coastal Management Services

Office for Coastal Management 

Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

April 2020

Storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property. This experimental 

Potential Storm Surge Flooding Map incorporates the mapping and ocean data 

collection expertise of the National Ocean Service. Complete destruction to Holly Beach, Louisiana, following Hurricane Rita. Credit: Doug Helton, NOAA.
Preparedness

Even before a storm, NOS pools our expertise in 

emergency response, coastal observations and 

modelling to prepare for, mitigate, and respond to the 

next hurricane.

Disaster Preparedness

NOAA’s Disaster Response Center (DRC) enhances 

capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters. The 

DRC brings together NOAA-wide resources to prepare 

federal, state, and local decision makers for a variety of 

hazards and threats. The DRC hosts trainings, drills, and 

workshops to help Gulf communities prepare for storms 

while enhancing NOAA’s coordination and emergency 

planning to conduct an organized and effective 

response.

Water-level Monitoring

The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products 

and Services monitors and disseminates observations of 

water levels, currents, and weather information in real 

time via the National Water Level Observation Network 

and the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System. 

Collected real-time environmental information helps 

coastal authorities prepare for, mitigate, and respond 

to storm tides and coastal flooding. NOS also regularly 

updates Storm QuickLook, an online compilation of 

ocean and weather observations within a coastal area.

Ocean and Coastal Observations Data

NOAA coordinates the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing 

System (IOOS®). This federal, regional, and privatesector partnership provides ocean and coastal data 

and information to support preparation and response 

efforts and to inform forecasts and predictions 

ahead of hurricanes. For example, the IOOS regions 

collect data inside the hurricane with unmanned, 

underwater robotic vehicles to increase understanding 

of hurricane intensity. In addition, High Frequency 

Positioning America for the Future Positioning America for the Future

radar systems measure surface current speed and 

direction as hurricanes pass through, to aid models 

and forecasts. IOOS is also partnering with National 

Weather Service (NWS) to make High Frequency radar 

data accessible through the NWS Advanced Weather 

Interactive Processing System and National Centers 

for Environmental Prediction data tanks. IOOS data 

helps decision makers protect our safety, economy, and 

environment.

Rapid Hurricane Response

Following hurricanes, NOS is one of the key partners 

immediately responding with a range of activities. NOS 

efforts focus on navigation surveys to restore maritime 

commerce; aerial surveys to assist in those efforts and 

to aid on-the-ground responders and local authorities; 

and oil spill cleanup and damage assessment.

Navigation Surveys

Immediately following a hurricane, the Office of Coast 

Survey provides emergency hydrographic services for 

affected port areas. These services are performed by 

Navigation Response Teams. These mobile emergency 

response units use echo sounders to check for 

submerged obstructions that pose hazards to vessels, 

collect data to update nautical charts, and provide 

mapping support. The work of these teams is essential 

to speeding the re-opening of ports and waterways.

Aerial Imagery Surveys

As soon as weather permits following major natural 

disasters, the National Geodetic Survey begins aerial 

survey missions to assess damages to affected areas. 

Typical weather-related events include hurricanes, 

tornadoes, and floods. NGS responds to other events, 

such as oil spills, as well. Directly georeferencedimagery data are collected, rapidly processed, and 

made available via open-source Geographic Information 

Systems (GIS). These data and images provide 

emergency and coastal managers with information 

needed to develop recovery strategies, facilitate search 

and rescue efforts, identify hazards to navigation and 

HAZMAT spills, locate errant vessels, and provide 

documentation necessary for damage assessment 

through the comparison of before-and-after imagery. 

Images are also available to view and download by 

the general public as a tool to assess impacts to their 

homes and community.

Pollution Response

After a hurricane, the Office of Response and 

Restoration (OR&R) provides scientific support to 

hazardous materials response efforts in coastal areas. 

The office surveys vessels or containers that may be 

leaking fuel, oil, or other hazardous materials; flies 

missions to identify and document spill sources; and 

uses computer models to predict spill movement 

and determine pollution threats. OR&R also provides 

guidance on marine debris and vessel salvage, conducts 

shoreline cleanup assessments, collects information 

to understand natural resource impacts from spills 

in affected areas, and works to assess and restore 

resources injured by spills.

Contamination Assessments

NOAA’s National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program, 

part of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean 

Science, coordinates with multiple partners to develop 

strategies to assess the environmental impacts of 

contaminants in coastal and estuarine waters in the 

aftermath of hurricanes. Of special concern is assessing 

the risk to human health of eating fish and shellfish and 

ensuring seafood safety.

Maps and Data Analysis

The Office of Response and Restoration’s Environmental 

Response Management Application (ERMA®) integrates 

static and real-time data for science based decisions 

in one common operational picture for emergency 

response. Following a hurricane, the Office for Coastal 

Management provides the satellite and aerial images 

needed to generate maps that help officials understand 

the long-term effects of the hurricane. These data 

products include pre-hurricane imagery and digital 

elevation data from a variety of sources; before and 

after imagery comparisons; and maps depicting 

ecological impacts, debris assessment, and wetlands 

loss along the coast. 

Recovery

NOS leads coastal management efforts across the 

nation and is the primary conduit for data and services 

to support informed coastal decision making. NOS has 

unique expertise in protecting coastal and estuarine 

habitat, reducing marine debris, and providing 

navigation, coastal mapping, observing, monitoring, 

and high-accuracy geospatial positioning services. 

In combination with our decision support, technical 

assistance, and training activities, NOS provides an 

unparalleled and powerful suite of resources and tools 

to aid recovery.

Long-term Recovery and Planning

The Office for Coastal Management provide assistance 

in long-term recovery planning in areas impacted by 

a hurricane. Staff may assist in the development of 

coastal project plans, coordinate with other federal and 

state organizations involved in recovery planning, and 

assist with the design and implementation of activities 

to involve local communities in planning for their own 

long-term recovery.

Geo-referenced aerial imagery taken by NOS shows the New Jersey coastline 

after Sandy.

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson retrieves side scan sonar after surveying the 

Hudson River for sunken containers, debris, and shoaling that pose dangers to 

ships and lives. Damage to oceanfront homes along the Rhode Island coastline after Sandy.

BEFORE

AFTER