Coast of South Carolina Storm Surge Study

Abstract : This report describes procedures followed and results obtained for a two-phase investigation of storm-generated water levels along the open coast and up the major tributaries of South Carolina. In the first phase, tropical and extratropical storm events that have historically impacted South Carolina are simulated using the long-wave hydrodynamic model ADCIRC. The resulting storm surge elevations with corresponding tides are then analyzed to develop combined event stage versus frequency-of- occurrence relationships for 38 selected locations within the study area. The second phase of the study generates frequency-indexed storm surge hydrographs for a separate modeling effort involving the Santee River Flood Control Project. The U.S. Army Engineer District, Charleston, requested the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to conduct a two-phase storm surge investigation for the state of South Carolina. The first phase performed a storm surge frequency analysis for the open coast and major tidal tributaries of the state. The second part of the study used the generated frequency relationships to develop frequency-indexed storm surge hydrograph boundary conditions for the computational boundary of the Resource Management Associates (RMA) model used in the Santee River Flood Control Project. This report provides documentation of the procedures followed and results obtained for the study.