The SLOSH Model: Evaluating the Threat of a Storm Surge

Home and business owners along the southern coast would do well to assess the threat of damage due to a storm surge to their property. A SLOSH model is what emergency managers use to determine which are residents should be evaluated first in the event of a major hurricane.

SLOSH stands for Sea, Lake, and Overland Surge from Hurricanes. The test is a computerized model used to estimate the storm surge heights and winds. The data used in making such determination is collected from historical data, hypothetical situation analysis, and hurricane predictions. The test takes into account the pressure, size, speed, track, and winds in a given area. These tests are considered to be accurate + / – 20%.

Emergency evacuation teams use the SLOSH data as they are tracking storms and engage in potential emergency responses.

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