Flood-inundation maps for the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 2013

Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5046
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and The Harrisburg Authority
By: , and 

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Abstract

A series of 28 digital flood-inundation maps was developed for an approximate 25-mile reach of the Susquehanna River in the vicinity of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The study was selected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) national Silver Jackets program, which supports interagency teams at the state level to coordinate and collaborate on flood-risk management. This study to produce flood-inundation maps was the result of a collaborative effort between the USACE, National Weather Service (NWS), Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), The Harrisburg Authority, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These maps are accessible through Web-mapping applications associated with the NWS, SRBC, and USGS. The maps can be used in conjunction with the real-time stage data from the USGS streamgage 01570500, Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pa., and NWS flood-stage forecasts to help guide the general public in taking individual safety precautions and will provide local municipal officials with a tool to efficiently manage emergency flood operations and flood mitigation efforts.


The maps were developed using the USACE HEC–RAS and HEC–GeoRAS programs to compute water-surface profiles and to delineate estimated flood-inundation areas for selected stream stages. The maps show estimated flood-inundation areas overlaid on high-resolution, georeferenced, aerial photographs of the study area for stream stages at 1-foot intervals between 11 feet and 37 feet (which include NWS flood categories Action, Flood, Moderate, and Major) and the June 24, 1972, peak-of-record flood event at a stage of 33.27 feet at the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pa., streamgage.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Flood-inundation maps for the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 2013
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2014-5046
DOI 10.3133/sir20145046
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Pennsylvania Water Science Center
Description vi, 17 p.
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
City Harrisburg
Other Geospatial Susquehanna River
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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