Effects of Hurricane Helene Related Floods on Farmlands, East Tennessee
Abstract
The seven-day rainfall (September 22-29, 2024) that resulted from the Tropical Storm after Hurricane Helene made landfall drastically affected the entire Southern Appalachian region, including the area that is the home of East Tennessee State University. This rainfall totaled 6-9 inches in East Tennessee. Flash floods resulted from drainage and overflow of rivers. The effects of this historical and rare storm are still being determined, as the landscape has changed drastically in areas, especially along the riverbanks. The overflow flooding resulted in significant soil and debris deposits, affecting farmlands and agricultural land use. This study has focused on the impact of the Hurricane Helene induced flood on the farmlands along the Nolichucky River in Washington County, TN. The study was conducted on 65 plots of land along the river, totaling approximately 3,200 acres. The study used true-color and false-color images, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and digital elevation model data collected before and after the flood to assess the condition of each plot on the farmlands. The final map indicated the degree of farmland damage, which was classified as not damaged, slightly, moderately, severely, and very severely damaged during the Hurricane Helene related flood. This study will help the county planners and policymakers to determine the area of impacted farmland acreage and aid in identifying future land use.
Start Time
16-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Time
16-4-2025 11:30 AM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Science, Technology and Engineering
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Faculty Mentor
Arpita Nandi
Faculty Department
Geosciences
Effects of Hurricane Helene Related Floods on Farmlands, East Tennessee
The seven-day rainfall (September 22-29, 2024) that resulted from the Tropical Storm after Hurricane Helene made landfall drastically affected the entire Southern Appalachian region, including the area that is the home of East Tennessee State University. This rainfall totaled 6-9 inches in East Tennessee. Flash floods resulted from drainage and overflow of rivers. The effects of this historical and rare storm are still being determined, as the landscape has changed drastically in areas, especially along the riverbanks. The overflow flooding resulted in significant soil and debris deposits, affecting farmlands and agricultural land use. This study has focused on the impact of the Hurricane Helene induced flood on the farmlands along the Nolichucky River in Washington County, TN. The study was conducted on 65 plots of land along the river, totaling approximately 3,200 acres. The study used true-color and false-color images, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and digital elevation model data collected before and after the flood to assess the condition of each plot on the farmlands. The final map indicated the degree of farmland damage, which was classified as not damaged, slightly, moderately, severely, and very severely damaged during the Hurricane Helene related flood. This study will help the county planners and policymakers to determine the area of impacted farmland acreage and aid in identifying future land use.