NGA damage assessments assist recovery from worst Houston flood event since Hurricane Allison

Earlier this month, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency was called upon to produce flood extents and damage assessments for areas around the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

From April 19-22, NGA assessed 28,180 acres of inundated land, 134 non-residential structures, 43 homes and 18 impassable roads.

NGA worked closely with FEMA headquarters, FEMA Region VI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s liaison to FEMA throughout the event to identify the hardest hit areas, said Brian Cameron, NGA disaster analysis and domestic support branch team lead and FEMA liaison.

“Our remote sensing support enabled federal, state and local emergency officials to focus resources and efficiently support the citizens of Houston during the worst flood event since Hurricane Allison in 2001,” said Cameron.

NGA concluded its support on April 25.

One of NGA’s core mission sets is providing accurate and timely geospatial intelligence to first responders in the wake of natural disasters. NGA supports humanitarian and disaster relief efforts by working directly with the lead federal agencies responding to fires, flood, earthquakes, landslides, hurricanes or other natural or manmade disasters.