Damage Assessment of Structures

To complete the damage assessment, I began by collecting property data for the storm-affected area, using a scale of approximately 1:400. Each property was examined for visible signs of damage, such as moved sheds or buildings and sand deposits. Damage was categorized into five levels: No Damage, Affected, Minor Damage, Major Damage, and Destroyed. Identifying properties required careful evaluation, and the most challenging part was distinguishing between debris and actual damage. I found that most roofs were undamaged, indicating minimal wind damage. 

I analyzed the spatial relationship between damage levels and proximity to the coastline. The analysis revealed that structures closer to the coastline experienced higher damage levels, likely due to increased flooding, with over 50% of structures within 100 meters from the coast being destroyed, and over 50% experiencing Minor Damage or higher between 100-200 meters. Having access to property appraisers' data on parcel class would streamline the process by eliminating the need to identify structure types manually, and higher resolution imagery would significantly improve accuracy. 

My findings indicate a clear relationship between proximity to the coastline and the level of structural damage. Structures closer to the coastline experienced higher damage levels, while those further away showed less severe damage. This trend is likely due to lower elevations and higher levels of storm surge from the ocean.