Flood Early Warning System
The Flood Early Warning System is designed to monitor rainfall, creek flow, and water levels in Austin 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Components include:
- Approximately 40 creek and lake gauges that monitor water levels.
- Approximately 80 rain gauges that monitor rainfall rate and amount.
- Real-time gauge data transmission to the Emergency Operations Center.
- Automated data transfer every 15 minutes to the National Weather Service.
- Advice to the Office of Emergency Management about current and expected flooding.
- Identification of the areas most likely to need evacuation due to flooding for emergency notification.
- Integrated response with the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center.
If signs indicate potential or active flooding, the Office of Emergency Management is immediately notified so they can effectively coordinate emergency response and release flood information to the community and media. In emergencies, many agencies work closely together in the Emergency Operations Center to rectify the situation in the quickest, safest manner. Some of the team members include:
Approximately 7,000 houses and over 300 bridges in Austin are subject to flooding. Even with this early warning technology and coordination, every rainstorm is different and can cause sudden and unpredictable flooding effects. Flash flooding and localized flooding can sometimes occur faster than citizens can be warned or emergency personnel can respond. This is why every family, especially in floodplains and flood prone areas, needs to take personal responsibility to prepare in advance for flooding.
Other sources of water level data:
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