Harris County Flood Control District and Houston Transtar were awarded the Emergency Management Association of Texas (EMAT) Emergency Management Technology & Innovation Award for The Roadway Flood Warning System published in July 2018.
The Roadway Flood Warning System is a new feature on Houston Transtar’s traffic map that indicates the possibility of roadway flooding. Houston Transtar partnered up with the Harris County Flood Control District to take the rainfall data from the Harris County Flood Warning System’s 170+ rain gauges around the county. When a gauge receives one inch of rain within a 15 minute period, it puts a 3 mile buffer around that gauge and lights up on the map, indicating the potential for roadway flooding in that area. The area is indicated by a blue pinpoint labeled “Roadway Flooding Risk”. It remains there for a 90 minute period, or resets if it continues receiving heavy rain.
The Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) nominated Houston Transtar and the Flood Control District for the EMAT Emergency Management Technology & Innovation Award. This award recognizes and honors the development, or innovative use, of technology and/or an innovation that improves local-level emergency management preparedness response, recovery, mitigation, and/or protection operations.
“The collaboration between HCFCD and Transtar to develop a visual mapping aide of where street flooding is possible during heavy rainfall is a significant step forward in helping to reduce flood damage to vehicles and save lives as well as build a more resilient community,” said Jeff Lindner, Director of Hydraulic Operations and Meteorologist for the Flood Control District.
The Roadway Flood Warning System may be accessed at https://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/ and the Harris County Flood Warning System may be accessed at https://www.harriscountyfws.org/.
ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
The Harris County Flood Control District provides flood damage reduction projects that work, with appropriate regard for community and natural values. With more than 1,500 bayous and creeks totaling approximately 2,500 miles in length, the Flood Control District accomplishes its mission by devising flood damage reduction plans, implementing the plans and maintaining the infrastructure.