The station lists 17.33 as the max height above gauge zero at 01:22 hours on 10/30/2012.
Is that accurate?
Did the gauge stop recording at that height due to malfunction?
Did the water height exceed the gauge height?
Link to extreme data;
http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/data_menu.shtml?extremetype=maxmin&bdate=20121029&edate=20121102&unit=1&format=Apply+Change&stn=8518750+The+Battery%2C+NY&type=Extremes
Link to plot, indicating some "abnormality" in record;
http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/station_info.shtml?stn=8518750 The Battery, NY
The nearest NOAA tidal guge that we have here is solar powered also. It is mounted on the top of a bride rail across a river.
Were they expectng a 12' surge? Battery park is so open to the open sea. I wonder what the HWM was on Liberty island.
Water and electronics?
What is the FIRM elevation?
I will assume the 17.33 is on station datum which would translate to 11.26 NAVD. (-6.07)
http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/data_menu.shtml?stn=8518750%20The%20Battery,%20NY&type=Datums
I will assume people marked the waterlines on many buildings. Anybody survey any?