Hurricane Rita Surge Data, Southwestern Louisiana and Southeastern Texas, September to November 2005

Pressure transducers and high-water marks were used to document the inland
water levels related to storm surge generated by Hurricane Rita in southwestern
Louisiana and southeastern Texas. On September 22-23, 2005, an experimental
monitoring network consisting of 47 pressure transducers (sensors) was deployed
at 33 sites over an area of about 4,000 square miles to record the timing,
extent, and magnitude of inland hurricane storm surge and coastal flooding.
Sensors were programmed to record date and time, temperature, and barometric or
water pressure. Water pressure was corrected for changes in barometric pressure
and salinity. Elevation surveys using global-positioning systems and
differential levels were used to relate all storm-surge water-level data,
reference marks, benchmarks, sensor measuring points, and high-water marks to
the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). The resulting data
indicated that storm-surge water levels over 14 feet above NAVD 88 occurred at
three locations and rates of water-level rise greater than 5 feet per hour
occurred at three locations near the Louisiana coast.

Quality-assurance measures were used to assess the variability and accuracy of
the water-level data recorded by the sensors. Water-level data from sensors
were similar to data from co-located sensors, permanent U.S. Geological Survey
streamgages, and water-surface elevations performed by field staff. Water-level
data from sensors at selected locations were compared to corresponding
high-water mark elevations. In general, the water-level data from sensors were
similar to elevations of high quality high-water marks, while reporting
consistently higher than elevations of lesser quality high-water marks.

[Summary provided by the USGS.]