Virginia Tech research team uses AI, satellite imagery to detail Debby’s damage
On the morning of Aug. 5, Category 1 Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, then moved up the East Coast. The storm flooded nearly 2,200 square kilometers, or 850 square miles, between Florida and New York, according to new findings from Virginia Tech’s Earth Observation and Innovation Lab.
By Aug. 9, more than 35 million people from South Carolina to Vermont were under flood alerts. Berkeley County, South Carolina, saw as much as 14 inches of rain with Charleston reaching 15 inches. Cities and counties along the U.S. Atlantic Coast are already vulnerable to flooding caused by land subsidence and sea level rise, a recent Virginia Tech study found.
Associate Professor Manoochehr Shirzaei and his team tracked Debby’s impact by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and big radar satellite data acquired by Sentinel-1 satellites operated by European Space Agency.
Radar microwave signals penetrate clouds and capture detailed images of the Earth's surface, allowing for accurate detection of floodwaters. Radar can measure changes in water levels, track flood progression, and provide critical data for emergency response and disaster management.
Shrizaei’s team found that nearly 2,200 square kilometers were flooded during and after Debby's landfall between Florida and New York with 1.5 percent of the land area in nine counties inundated. Seven counties experienced more than 35 square kilometers of inundation.
Debby is the fourth hurricane since 2000 to hit Florida in early August. Its heavy rain and strong winds may be linked to a warming atmosphere and oceans, which can hold more moisture.
“As extreme weather events like Debby become more common, it’s crucial to rethink how we develop flood-prone areas along the U.S. East Coast,” Shirzaei said. “Investing in resilient infrastructure and promoting public awareness are essential steps in preparing for and adapting to future floodings.”
