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At left, the true color imagery of Copernicus Sentinel-2 processed by Lucey and Sharp shows the Sanibel Causeway connecting Fort Myers, Fla., to Sanibel Island on Sept. 28 before Hurricane Ian made landfall. At right is the Sanibel Causeway on Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. Eastern time after Hurricane Ian. Part of the causeway was destroyed.

Courtesy of NASA

The recovery response to Hurricane Ian in Florida has been informed by the efforts of two University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Earth System Science Center (ESSC) research associates who have been analyzing pre-event and post-event satellite remote sensing data.

Ronan Lucey is UAH鈥檚 lead research associate supporting NASA鈥檚 Earth Science Applied Sciences Disasters program.

Courtesy of American Geophysical Union

Working from Cramer Hall at UAH, a part of the University of Alabama System, Ronan Lucey and Kaylee Sharp have been processing satellite data from NASA鈥檚 Landsat 8 & 9 and the European Space Agency鈥檚 Copernicus Sentinel-2 to create distinct composites that are being used for response efforts.

The composites are continuously evaluated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The data provides situational awareness of flooding and storm damage across the State of Florida to assist FEMA and its partners.

One composite, the , makes use of the reflective properties of water by enhancing them to highlight potentially flooded areas. Another composite, , brightens the color of geographic features so individuals and agencies can better detect storm damage.

Through a cooperative agreement with NASA鈥檚 Earth Science Applied Sciences Disasters program, UAH research associates process remote sensing data for numerous types of hydrometeorological events.

鈥淲e are involved with pretty much every response that has to do with hurricanes or storms,鈥� says Lucey, who is UAH鈥檚 lead research associate for NASA鈥檚 Disasters program.

Lucey says that the composites developed by he and Sharp are highly regarded by FEMA, as NASA is one of the few agencies that provide free, openly available products to FEMA.

鈥淚f there are gaps FEMA can鈥檛 afford, or gaps in the flight lines from the private sector, that鈥檚 a place often where NASA products can fill in,鈥� Lucey says.