Hurricane Michael: Before and After

Hurricane Michael killed 16 people and inflicted $25 billion in damage after

striking Florida’s panhandle on Oct. 10, 2018. The National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) analyzed the storm in 2019 and said

Hurricane Michael’s 160 mph winds at landfall made it the first category 5

hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew devastated South

Florida in 1992.

In this Teach with GIS lesson, you’ll create a swipe map showing imagery of the

Mexico Beach area just before and after the deadly storm.

Build Skills in These Areas

➢ Adding a WMTS Service

➢ Creating a swipe map

Software Requirements

➢ ArcGIS Online account (obtain a free ArcGIS Public Account or ArcGIS trial)

Estimated Time

➢ 30–60 minutes

Lesson Overview

Step 1: Obtain the WMTS from NOAA

A Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) delivers pregenerated georeferenced map images.

For this lesson, the WMTS was acquired from the NOAA Remote Sensing Division to support NOAA’s

homeland security and emergency response requirements.

1. Click NOAA Emergency Response Imagery.

2. Click Hurricane Michael (2018).

3. On the ribbon, click About.

4. Click Web Services.

5. Copy the URL for the WMTS.

Now, you have the link you need to load the post-hurricane imagery.

Exercise

Step 2: Prepare a Pre-Hurricane Michael Imagery Map

First, you’ll use basemap imagery to prepare your swipe map.

1. Go to ArcGIS Online and sign in to your organizational account.

2. Click Map.

3. In the search box in the upper right, type Mexico Beach, FL, USA, and press Enter.

4. Click Add to Map Notes.

5. Change the Basemap to Imagery.

6. Save the map as Pre-Hurricane Michael and add your initials. Add appropriate tags and a summary.

Q1. Write a couple of sentences describing the landscape of Mexico Beach before Hurricane Michael.

(Hint: Zoom and pan the map as necessary.)

A1. _________________________________________________________________________________

Step 3: Prepare a Post-Hurricane Michael Imagery Map

In this step, you’ll use the URL about the WMTS you copied to show Mexico Beach after Hurricane

Michael devastated the area.

1. On the ribbon, click Add and select Add Layer from Web.

2. In the Add Layer from Web window, do the following:

• For What type of data are you referencing, Select WMTS OGC Web Service (ensure that you

don’t inadvertently select the WMS OGC Web Service).

• In the URL box, paste the WMTS URL from the first step of this exercise.

• Click Get Layers.

• In the Layer box, select 20181011a_RGB.

• Click Add Layer.

You’ve downloaded the imagery from October 11, 2018, the day after Hurricane Michael struck Mexico

Beach, Florida. You can uncheck the layer to see the basemap underneath.

3. Save the map as Post-Hurricane Michael (Your initials).

Step 4: Construct a Swipe Map to Contrast Hurricane Damage

The Esri Story Map Swipe and Spyglass app enables users to interact with two maps. You’ll use a

template to contrast the pre- and post-hurricane imagery.

1. Click Home and click Content.

2. In the table, check the box for Pre-Hurricane Michael (Your initials).

3. Click Create, and in the menu that appears, select Using a Template.

4. In the Create a New Web App window, click Build a Story Map and click Story Map Swipe and

Spyglass.

5. Click Create Web App and add the appropriate metadata in the Create a web app window:

• For Title, type Pre-and Post-Hurricane Michael Imagery for Mexico Beach, Florida.

• For Tags, type Hurricane Michael, Mexico Beach, and Florida.

• For Summary, type Swipe map showing Hurricane Michael’s damage to Mexico Beach, Florida.

• Save in your appropriate folder.

• Click Done.

You’re now working with the Welcome to the Swipe/Spyglass Builder window.

6. In the Welcome to the Swipe/Spyglass Builder window, click the search button, and in the Select

Web Map window, select the map for Pre-Hurricane Michael (Your initials).

7. Click Next in the window that appears.

The app loads and you’re again working in the Swipe/Spyglass Builder.

8. If necessary, choose the Vertical bar style and click Next.

9. Click the Select this type button for the Two web maps button.

In the Swipe Type pane, the Left Web map ID is filled in; here, your selection will automatically fill in the

Right Web map ID.

10. Click the search button at the bottom and select the Post-Hurricane Michael map. (Verify that the

Select Web Map window is in My Content.)

11. Click Next twice.

12. Click Open the app.

13. Type Pre-Hurricane Michael for the Left Map Header Title and Post-Hurricane Michael for the Right

Map Header Title.

14. Click Open the app.

15. In the box, delete the Edit me text and type a couple of sentences detailing the differences between

the pre- and post-hurricane imagery of your swipe app.

16. Click Save.

Q2. Write a couple of sentences contrasting the landscape of Mexico Beach after Hurricane Michael

made landfall on October 10, 2018. Be specific with details about structures that have been destroyed.

A2. _____________________________________________________________________

In this lesson, you used a Web Map Tile Service, and created a swipe app, to show and contrast the

damage of a category 5 hurricane.

Copyright © 2019 Esri. All rights reserved. https://www.esri.com/

l

Q1. Write a couple of sentences describing the landscape of Mexico Beach before Hurricane Michael.

(Hint: Zoom and pan the map as necessary.)

A1. Mexico Beach, Florida, appears to be lined with vacation homes and resorts. Parked boats and pools

dot the area. The beach itself is clean and white. Development hugs the beach with the Gulf of Mexico.

Outside of the beach, swamps appear to dominate the inland areas.

Q2. Write a couple of sentences contrasting the landscape of Mexico Beach after

Hurricane Michael made landfall on Oct. 10, 2018. Be specific with details about structures that have

been destroyed.

A2. The post-hurricane imagery shows what a category 5 hurricane can do to a coastal town. Destruction

appears almost complete. Nearly every structure, especially homes along the beach, appears to have

been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable.

Exercise Answers

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About the Author

Kathryn Keranen is an award-winning teacher and author. She

serves as an instructor in geographic science at James Madison

University and is the cofounder of the award-winning Geospatial

Semester. With Bob Kolvoord, she is the coauthor of the Making

Spatial Decisions series from Esri Press.

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