USDA Forest Service Hurricane Preparedness

1. USDA Forest ServiceHurricane Preparedness Data Sets • Developed Southern Wildland Fire Risk Assessment GIS data sets (infrastructure data) for potential use during emergency response • Developed a “GeoBook” that provides local emergency contacts in a spatial layers context • Scanned selected State transportation maps for emergency access and egress Hurricane Hugo 1989 Hurricanes Rita/Katrina 2005

2. USDA Forest ServiceHurricane Preparedness Services and Products • Enhancing FS internet for Hurricane/Hazards web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/hurricaneguide/ • Creation of a “Response Guide” for damage assessment and utilization of woody materials in cooperation with state and local agencies • Developing a GIS template for standardized hurricane mapping products • Procurement of external storage devices & plotters specifically for emergency response

3. USDA Forest ServiceHurricane Preparedness Models and Tools • Developing systematic assessment tools for storm damage models • Developed a gross vegetation change (pre- and post-event) model using Landsat imagery • Developed a storm damage prediction model based on wind speed & precipitation in cooperation with NOAA

4. USDA Forest ServiceHurricane Preparedness Collaboration • Developed a method for estimations of damaged areas and potential wood volume losses needed within days in order to be presented to Congress • Collaboration with USGS’s First Responder ArcIMS server and staff • Collaboration with the National Interagency Fire Center’s FTP site to exchange GIS data sets • Collaboration with American Forests (an NGO) to develop a Damage Assessment Model for wildland/urban interface areas • Technical collaboration with USDA-FSA and State Foresters for storm damage restoration of private lands