Secoora supported assets, specifically high frequency radar (HFR), water level stations, surface buoys and subsurface moorings in florida were damaged during the passage of hurricane helene

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $2,768,600 to the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (Secoora) on July 1, 2026, under the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) program (CFDA 11.012) to repair or replace observing assets damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene.

Secoora's high-frequency radar systems, water level stations, surface buoys, and subsurface moorings in Florida sustained damage as Hurricane Helene intensified into a Category 4 storm while moving northward into the Gulf of America. The funding, provided through the FY 2026 Disaster Relief Supplemental Act, will support restoration of these operational observing systems to full functionality. Performance occurs in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with a completion date of June 30, 2028.

The IOOS program supports development and sustainability of integrated ocean observing infrastructure to collect, monitor, and disseminate marine environment data. Secoora, a regional ocean observing association, operates as one of eleven regional associations that guide coastal observation activities across the nation's coastal communities, including the southeastern United States.

Hurricane helene crossed the caribbean sea as a tropical storm but as IT moved northward into the gulf of america IT quickly intensified into a category 4 storm. Secoora assets in the path of helene included surface buoys, subsurface moorings, water quality stations, HFR, and water level sensors. Funding provided by the FY 2026 disaster relief supplemental act (drsa) - repair and replacement of observing assets, real property, and equipment will be used to repair or replace existing operational observing systems damaged or destroyed by hurricane helene.