Geospatial analysis of flooding from hurricane Florence in the coastal South Carolina using Google Earth Engine

Flooding impacts from hurricanes and other natural hazards are an important concern in many areas of the world. The objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a framework to identify flood-affected areas after storm impact; (2) map the flooded areas caused by the hurricane Florence; and (3) assess the major effect of the hurricane on the land cover and agricultural crops in the coastal South Carolina during the flood period. The coastal South Carolina regions are recognized as the most important agricultural area in the state. The developed framework identified and mapped the affected areas during the hurricane season. Based on the results the hurricane-flooded areas were approximately 681 km2, and the major affected counties in both analysis flood frequency and flooded areas are Charleston, Georgetown, Berkeley, Florence, Marlboro, Marion, Horry, Chesterfield, Sumter, Clarendon, and Darlington. These results not only indicate flood risk on the land cover but also demonstrate the advantage of utilizing Google Earth Engine and the public archive database in its platform to track and monitor the natural hazards over time