Hurricane Sandy Water Levels

     Hurricane Sandy made landfall on monday around 1830 hours in New Jersey.  Prior to Sandy's arrival USGS crews deployed around 150 storm surge sensors that measure water elevation every 30 seconds; and now that the storm has moved inland the crews will go out and record the data.  So far there has been record water elevations in the Raritan River at 13.88 feet, Rockaway Inlet at 11.75 feet, and Raritan Bay at 11.21 feet. 
     Gathering this type of information is very important for not only monitoring the storm at certain intervals but also helping in future mitigation.  All of the information the USGS cres gathered and have yet to gather will aid in the effort to assess storm damage; make comparisons between wind and flood damage, and also improve computer models to help improve future coastal change.  One of the after effects of this storm will be/already has been massive snow fall; with this snowfall USGS crews will also look at the potential of snow run-off in regards to flooding.