On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach, Flordia. It landed as a category four hurricane which made it the first ever category four hurricane to land in that region. It was also the strongest storm of the season.

Present the following scenario to your students and have them follow the steps to use ArcGIS Online to compare pre- and post imagery from the storm.

Scenario

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has provided imagery of the destruction of Mexico Beach, FL. Your office has been tasked to quickly create a storymap application that can compare the pre- and post imagery.

Obtaining the Web Map Tile Service Service from NOAA

A Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) delivers pre-generated georeferenced map images. The WMTS to be used in this exercise was acquired by the NOAA Remote Sensing Division to support NOAA homeland security and emergency response requirements.

1. Click on NOAA Emergency Response Imagery.
2. Click Hurricane Michael (2018).
3. Click About.
4. Click Web Services.
5. Copy the URL for the WMTS Service: https://storms.ngs.noaa.gov/storms/tilesj/services/tileserver.php/wmts 

Preparing Pre-Hurricane Michael Imagery Map

Using Basemap imagery to prepare pre-Hurricane Michael imagery map.Go to ArcGIS Online and sign in to your organizational account.

1. Click Map.
2. In the locational box in the upper right corner search for Mexico Beach, Florida.
3. Add to Map Notes.
4. Change the Basemap to Imagery.
5. On the top ribbon save the map as 

Have students write a paragraph describing the landscape of Mexico Beach before Hurricane Michael.

Preparing Post Hurricane Michael Imagery Map

Add the WMTS from NOAA to show Mexico Beach after Hurricane Micael came to shore.

1. One the top menu ribbon select Add.
2. Select Add Layer from the Web.
3. Select a WMTS OGS Web Service as the type of data referenced.
4. Copy and paste the WMTS URL obtained from NOAA in the first section of the exercise.
5. Click GET LAYERS.
6. Click Choose a LAyer and select 20181011a_PGB.
7. ADD LAYER.
8. Save the map as Post Hurricane Michael_your initials.

Constructing a Swipe Map to Compare and Contrast

The Esri Story MAp Swipe and Spyglass app template enables users to interact with two web maps. This is a perfect application for observing pre-and post changes.

1. On the upper left go to Home and select Content.
2. Click and open Pre Hurricane Michael.
3. Click Create Web App Using a Template.
4. Click Build a Story Map and select Story Map Swipe and Spyglass.
5. CREATE WEB APP.
6. Title: Pre and Post Imagery of Mexico Beach after Hurricane Michael.
7. Done.
8. Select the Vertical bar layout and click Next.
9. Select Two web maps.
10. Click the magnifying glass and select the Post Hurricane Michael Map.
11. Click Next and Next again.
12. Type Pre Michael for the LEft MAp Header Title and Post Michael for the Right Map Header Title.
13. Click Open the app.
14. In the Tab on the left type information about Hurricane Michael.
15. SAVE.

Have students write a paragraph describing the landscape of Mexico Beach before and after hurricane Michael. Ask them to be specific with details about structures that have been destroyed.

In this activity, students have used a Web Map Tile Service of post-hurricane imagery to compare the damage done to Mexico Beach by Hurricane Michael.