Preparing for Coastal Flooding with the Stevens Flood Advisory System

Coastal flooding along the Hudson River will continue to happen more frequently due to sea level rise-driven higher tides and storm surge. Thankfully, our estuary waterfront communities have had an important resource in preparing for these floods since 2010:  the Stevens Flood Advisory System (SFAS).  SFAS provides both real-time and forecast water levels at several locations along the tidal Hudson and throughout the region.

On October 20, 20203,  Dr. Philip Orton, an oceanographer that helped develop the forecasts, and  Julie Noble, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Kingston, shared how the City of Kingston uses SFAS to prepare for coastal flood events, including the recent storm surge event from Dec 23, 2022. Presentations were following by questions and discussion.

Stevens Flood Advisory System: https://hudson.dl.stevens-tech.edu/sfas/

This program is sponsored by the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program and the NYS Water Resources Institute at Cornell University, and funded by the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.

The Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network connects local governments committed to taking actionable steps to manage current and future flood risks. The Flood Resilience Network is co-facilitated by New York Sea Grant and the Hudson River Watershed Alliance.

Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network programs and trainings are open to Members and Partners. Members are representatives from municipal and county governments in the Hudson River estuary watershed. This includes elected and appointed officials, staff, and volunteers. Partners are staff from agencies, regional organizations, or private-sector consulting firms working in the Hudson River estuary watershed that support Members’ flood resilience goals.

To join the Network and gain access to upcoming programs, visit https://www.hvfloodresiliencenetwork.org/join and complete the Member or Partner form based on your role. The Network is free to join.