Formative Assessment: Analyzing a storm surge risk map
One component of preparedness is understanding physical aspects of vulnerability
to storm surge. Let us explore the existing physical vulnerability data – in this case,
storm surge data – for Sarasota County and do some analyses with them. Sarasota
County government has developed an interactive map
(https://ags2.scgov.net/knowyourzone/) to help residents understand the local risk
of storm surge.
Click the link (https://ags2.scgov.net/knowyourzone/) to go to the website. You
should see a webpage looks like this:
You can see the interactive map on the right, and you can also search an
address in the top-left corner of the map. In the left column, you can see three
labels: map legends, direction tools, and routing tools. Map legends show the
different legends of evacuation zones, evacuation routes, hospitals, and shelters.
Direction tools and routing tools help you plan evacuation routes. Let us focus on
the evacuation zone.
In order to help people understand their risk, the different risk zones are
translated into different evacuation zones based on the potential heights of storm
surge. Below is the translation between the risk zones and evacuation levels:
Evacuation Zones
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Zone D
Zone E
Storm surge heights needed to cover
this zone (in feet above sea level)
Up to 7 feet
Up to 15 feet
Up to 26 feet
Up to 33 feet
Up to 35 feet
Bear in mind that the evacuation zones are not the same as the hurricane
category. There are many factors that influence the relationship between hurricane
category and storm surge heights, but we need to keep in mind that a strong
hurricane might generate little storm surge, whereas a weak hurricane might
generate a huge storm surge.
We now understand the meaning of evacuation zones and the other
information shown on the interactive map. Going back to the post-disaster recovery
forum, recall that collecting the hazard information and understanding the physical
and social vulnerabilities in an important part of Task 3. Explore the map and answer
the questions below:
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There is a shelter called Sarasota High School in northern Sarasota County. Find
this shelter on the map, or simply search the address (1000 S School Ave,
Sarasota, Florida) to locate it. Although the school campus spreads across
different evacuation zones, what is the evacuation zone in which the school
icon is located?
Answer: it is located in evacuation zone . [Answer: C]
Assume a major hurricane is hitting northern Sarasota, and NOAA estimates
that the storm surge will potentially reach 32 feet. Under this situation, do you
suggest residents go to the shelter in Sarasota High School?
Answer: yes or no . [No]
There are four hospitals within the evacuation zones on the map, marked with
an H icon. These are Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Doctor’s Hospital, Venice
Regional Medical Center, and Englewood Community Hospital. Zooming in to a
level of detail that shows the footprints (outlines) of individual buildings
associated with these facilities, how many of these hospitals overlap with an
evacuation zone associated with risk of inundation during a storm like the one
described in the previous question? [Answer: 3] (Explanation: Doctors Hospital
is the only one of the four that does not intersect level A, B, or C.)
Which hospital would be at greatest risk of inundation? Choices: (1) Sarasota
Memorial Hospital, (2) Doctors Hospital, (3) Venice Regional Medical Center,
and (4) Englewood Community Hospital. [Answer: 4]
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County is located at 2200 Ringling
Blvd, Sarasota FL 34237. What is the evacuation zone that this address is
located in?
Choices: (1) Zone B; (2) Zone C; (3) Zone E; (4) outside of existing evacuation
zones. [Answer: 4]
Note that the search address function does not work all the time. You may have
to try it a few times.