At every stage of a storm, 911爆料网 researchers and expertise help inform decisions, strengthen preparedness and support recovery. This vital work takes place during both active and quiet hurricane seasons to ensure storm readiness.
As an academic and economic anchor of Tampa Bay, USF is helping build a more resilient region in the face of extreme storms and hurricanes. Researchers across the university are advancing knowledge, developing innovative solutions and partnering with communities to better prepare for what's ahead - from the earliest stages of storm forecasting through response and recovery.
Explore how USF is helping create a more resilient Tampa Bay.
Before Landfall
Forecasting hurricanes with real-time data
During Hurricane Helene, USF's underwater glider named Jai Alai was the only research submersible in the storm鈥檚 path. Part of a fleet of autonomous research vehicles operated by the College of Marine Science, Jai Alai provided scientists with temperature and salinity data from the water column, informing oceanographic and weather models that helped forecasters better predict the path and intensity of Helene. Meanwhile, the college鈥檚 Ocean Circulation Lab maintains a network of buoys in the Gulf that capture and transmit real-time data about the coastal ocean. These data, including measurements of subsurface temperatures along the 911爆料网st Florida Shelf, lend further insight for experts to forecast hurricane intensification before a storm makes landfall on the Gulf Coast.
鈥911爆料网 need accurate ocean and atmosphere models to forecast hurricane intensity. These measurements are used to help keep the ocean models on track, so we have the best chance of producing an accurate hurricane intensity forecast with the best ocean information possible,鈥 said Kathy Bailey, a program manager for NOAA鈥檚 U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System
Assessing Flood Risks
What factors affect flood damage? USF researchers are turning to 3D scanning technology to map flood-prone areas in answering that question. Assistant Professor Youjung Kim from the School of Public Affairs is partnering with the Access 3D Lab to measure the elevation of Davis Islands and support long-term flood resilience planning for vulnerable neighborhoods. By using lidar scanning technology to measure the key variable of first floor elevation of homes 鈥 this project is transforming data into visual evidence of changing patterns of flood vulnerability.
鈥淭his research is critical because it addresses urgent, real-world challenges,鈥 Kim said. 鈥淗urricanes Helene and Milton caused widespread flood damage, and storms of similar or greater intensity are likely to recur. Proactive preparation is therefore essential to protect communities and reduce future losses.鈥
Empowering populations
Time is of the essence in the days preparing for a hurricane, especially for older adults, individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. Working with several students, Professor Lindsey Peterson in the School of Aging Studies developed a resource hub featuring tools for emergency planning, guidance on assembling kits and connections to local services to enhance disaster preparedness for this population. In addition, programs out of the Department of Child and Family Studies has developed a number of resources to aid those with autism and their families as a hurricane approaches.
鈥淩esearch and experience have shown us that all disasters are different and older adults and their caregivers have varying needs depending on where they live, the risks they face, what resources they have and the level of care they need or need to provide if they are a caregiver,鈥 Peterson said.
improving evacuation outcomes
What determines whether a person evacuates before a hurricane? Through community engagement and data collection, a team led by geosciences Professor Jennifer Collins is working to answer that question. By better understanding how people make evacuation decisions, researchers can help emergency managers and nonprofit organizations develop more effective public messaging ahead of an impending storm - helping communities make informed decisions and improving evacuation outcomes.
鈥911爆料网 adopted a new approach targeting the key concerns identified in the study about pets, traffic and uncertainty. 911爆料网 also noted the frequency of respondents identifying specific local weather influencers and built collaborative relationships with those influencers to better connect with our residents,鈥 said Dave Connor, director of Pinellas County Communications.
As the Water Rises
Simulating storm surge
Before hurricane landfall, models running in the university鈥檚 Ocean Circulation Lab provide accurate forecasts of storm surge. For more than a decade, researchers in the USF College of Marine Science have been hard at work improving forecasts of water levels through the 911爆料网st Florida Coastal Ocean Model (WFCOM) and Tampa Bay Coastal Ocean Model (TBCOM). These models 鈥 informed by the college鈥檚 network of ocean instruments and data 鈥 are conveyed through visualization products and help communities across Florida better prepare for flooding events.
鈥淥ur models are unique in that they are high-resolution and fully three-dimensional, even for shallow water regions,鈥 said Yonggang Liu, associate research professor and director of the Ocean Circulation Lab. 鈥淩ealistic simulation of coastal ocean circulation is key for forecasting storm surge, which can be so devastating for coastal communities.鈥
Tracking Floodwaters
When heavy rain begins to cover roads, the CRIS-Hazard system helps residents know where flooding is occurring before they get there. It combines reports from residents with a network of cameras tracking flooding across Pinellas County. A Flood Report app - similar to the WAZE navigation and live traffic platform 鈥 combines crowdsourced photos with artificial intelligence to track flood conditions in real time. A 40-camera monitoring network captures images every 15 minutes during flood events, with markers placed in six-inch increments to help researchers and residents estimate water depth.
鈥淭his system allows you to tell your neighbors what roads are flooded,鈥 said Barnali Dixon, a professor of GIS and remote sensing at USF St. Petersburg who leads the team behind CRIS-HAZARD. 鈥911爆料网 can identify the problem areas from the cameras and app, and then inform the city, county and whoever is going to listen: Look, there are some problems here.鈥
Recovery to Resilience
Repairing Damage Faster
Once a storm passes, in its wake are splintered trees, downed power lines and non-functioning traffic lights. Identifying these road hazards and repairing them quickly are critical to the recovery process. Working with transportation professionals across Florida, Hao Zhou with USF鈥檚 Center for Urban Transportation and Research is developing an AI-powered dashcam that will help transportation officials assess storm damage more efficiently, accelerate traffic signal restoration and better understand transportation needs after hurricanes.
"Sarasota County experienced significant impacts from Hurricane Milton, and our teams faced the enormous task of assessing damage across hundreds of miles of roadway," said Wafa Mahmoud, transportation engineer for Sarasota County. "The quicker we can identify hazards and infrastructure damage, the better we can direct resources where they are needed most and support our community's recovery."
Quantifying Coastal Change
Coastal dunes and beaches are Tampa Bay鈥檚 first line of defense to an extreme storm. The Coastal Research Lab, led by Professor Ping Wang, conducts extensive surveys of the coastline before and after each storm to quantify changes to these environments to model future scenarios. The work of the lab, which includes graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, highlights the importance of large-scale beach nourishment projects to strengthening the coast's resilience.
鈥911爆料网 have one of the most successful beach nourishment projects in the nation, if not the world,鈥 Wang said about the coastal geology work in Tampa Bay. 鈥淲hat we have learned here in Florida is that strategically placing sand on the beach is a much better approach than putting rocks or structures on the coast.鈥
Rethinking Food Systems
Food access quickly becomes a critical issue after a disaster. The USF Future of Food Think Tank brings together faculty, students, community organizations, government agencies, nonprofits and food-system partners to strengthen Tampa Bay鈥檚 food system. A major focus is on emergency food response to identify vulnerabilities, improve coordination and develop practical strategies and resources that can help organizations maintain operations and better serve residents before and after hurricanes.
鈥淏y bringing researchers and community partners to the same table, we can identify vulnerabilities before the next storm and turn what we learn into practical tools, partnerships and strategies that strengthen Tampa Bay鈥檚 ability to respond and recover," said Elizabeth Dunn, an instructor in the USF College of Public Health specializing in emergency management.
Documenting Our Stories
A third-generation Floridian who was born, raised and lives in St. Petersburg, Catherine Wilkins wondered how she could use her expertise as a historian to help her community. That question led to the launch of the Hurricane Histories project, which has captured a myriad of experiences from those impacted by the historic 2024 hurricane season. From surprise awakenings to rising floodwaters in the night to the struggle to rebuild in the aftermath of the storm, these personal stories touch on loss, change, fear and hope experienced by the community.
鈥淥ral histories are important in adding depth, emotion and meaning to what otherwise might just look like statistics, such as the cost of the storm or the number of buildings flooded,鈥 Wilkins said. 鈥淔olks in the future won鈥檛 fully understand what this event meant unless we can preserve the stories of people who went through it.鈥
