September 2017: Hurricane Maria

From September 22 to 26, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) collected damage assessment imagery in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The aerial imagery was collected in specific areas identified by FEMA and the National Weather Service. You can access all of the images collected online.

Select the round icon with directional arrows using your mouse (or your finger) and slide back and forth to view a "before and after" comparison. "Before" images are provided by Mapbox, Digital Globe, and OpenStreetMap; "After" images were captured by NOAA's National Geodetic Survey in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

A team of NOAA aviators captured the images using specialized remote-sensing cameras aboard NOAA's King Air aircraft flying above the area at an altitude between 500 - 1,500 meters.

NOAA's aerial imagery aids safe navigation and captures damage to coastal areas caused by a storm. Aerial imagery is a crucial tool to determine the extent of the damage inflicted by flooding, and to compare baseline coastal areas to assess the damage to major ports and waterways, coastlines, critical infrastructure, and coastal communities. This imagery provides a cost-effective way to better understand the damage sustained to both property and the environment.