Development of a Mid-Atlantic Surf Hazards Awareness and Research Coordination (SHARC) Network: Collaborating to improve the forecasting, Understanding, and Prevention of Surf Hazards

In 2019, New York Sea Grant (NYSG) and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS) collaborated to develop the Surf Hazard Awareness and Research Coordination (SHARC) Network: a network of local and regional professionals associated with surf hazard response, research, data collection, education, and community engagement. Surf hazards, such as flooding, dangerous waves and currents, pose a serious threat to beachgoers; this includes rip currents, which alone kill over 100 people each year at US beaches. The purpose of the SHARC Network is to first increase collaboration and communication between local and regional surf hazard experts and professionals such as researchers, modelers, forecasters, lifesaving personnel, first responders, and municipal decision-makers. MARACOOS collects unique ocean data that can be used and improved upon by the network to increase the understanding and awareness of surf hazards and how they impact local coasts. Through the network of experts, increased collaboration and communication will lead to better, more localized data collection which will inform forecasting and predictions. Specializing in local stakeholder engagement, and with increased local expert partnerships, MARACOOS and New York Sea Grant lead the SHARC Network in local engagements to continually educate the public, get public feedback, and improve local products to increase the ability for the public to understand and avoid hazards specific to certain coastal areas. The SHARC Network increases capacity and collaboration to improve data, create engagements specific to local beaches and ultimately decrease surf hazard-related incidents and fatalities. Initially piloted on Long Island, NY, the SHARC Network will be replicated and expanded throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region.