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Flood-Inundation Maps of Selected Areas Affected by the Flood of October 2015 in Central and Coastal South Carolina

Open-File Report 2016-1019
Prepared in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161019

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Abstract

Heavy rainfall occurred across South Carolina during October 1–5, 2015, as a result of an upper atmospheric low-pressure system that funneled tropical moisture from Hurricane Joaquin into the State. The storm caused major flooding in the central and coastal parts of South Carolina. Almost 27 inches of rain fell near Mount Pleasant in Charleston County during this period. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages recorded peaks of record at 17 locations, and 15 other locations had peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record. During the October 2015 flood event, USGS personnel made about 140 streamflow measurements at 86 locations to verify, update, or extend existing rating curves (which are used to compute streamflow from monitored river stage). Immediately after the storm event, USGS personnel documented 602 high-water marks, noting the location and height of the water above land surface. Later in October, 50 additional high-water marks were documented near bridges for South Carolina Department of Transportation. Using a subset of these high-water marks, 20 flood-inundation maps of 12 communities were created. Digital datasets of the inundation area, modeling boundary, and water depth rasters are all available for download.

Suggested Citation

Musser, J.W., Watson, K.M., Painter, J.A., and Gotvald, A.J., 2016, Flood-inundation maps of selected areas affected by the flood of October 2015 in central and coastal South Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1019, 81 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161019.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Conditions Leading to the Flood of October 2015
  • Methods Used
  • Estimated Magnitudes and Flood Probabilities of Peak Streamflows
  • Flood-Inundation Maps
  • Effects and Damages of the Flood of October 2015
  • Summary
  • Acknowledgments
  • References Cited
  • Glossary
  • Appendix 1. High-water marks used to generate flood-inundation maps of selected areas affected by the flood of October 2015 in central and coastal South Carolina
  • Appendix 2. Flood-inundation maps of selected areas in central and coastal South Carolina, October 1–5, 2016
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Flood-Inundation Maps of Selected Areas Affected by the Flood of October 2015 in Central and Coastal South Carolina
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2016-1019
DOI 10.3133/ofr20161019
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) South Atlantic Water Science Center
Description Report: v, 81 p.; Raw Data
Country United States
State South Carolina
Other Geospatial Salkehatchie River Basin, Savannah River Basin
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details