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PHOENIX — Maricopa County has one of the most extensive flood warning systems in the world. Monitoring a county with approximately 55,000 square miles of drainage area, seven major rivers, 3.8 million people and a reputation for more severe weather than any other county in the United States, the system is the largest of its kind and amazingly it's in the middle of the desert. Add to that our relative newness in terms of data history and a general lack of flood hazard knowledge by new residents, and flood warnings become critical to saving lives and property.
The Flood Control District began installing flood warning gages in late 1980 in response to the damaging floods of the previous three years. The National Weather Service ALERT format was chosen because it delivered information in "real time" at a relatively low cost. Rainfall and water-level gages were initially installed in the Agua Fria and Hassayampa watersheds where damage from previous years' floods was most severe. Instruments were subsequently installed at all of the 23 flood control dams owned and operated by the District. State statutes require the District to monitor these dams on site during a flood emergency. In the days previous to ALERT monitoring, crews were dispatched to some or all of the dams each time a heavy rain occurred. Now crews are sent only when water stored behind the dams reaches a pre-defined level.
Recently, the staff that manages the flood warning center (the ALERT Room, as it is called) had complained of too much data in too many places and that some critical data were being overlooked during stressful times. An update was planned for the ALERT Room which would bring more information into a central area where operators could see the many phases of a flood event and determine the best course of action.
The updates, which combine aesthetics and functionality, included four connected 42-inch video panels and two Web cameras. Two other additions, a roof camera and 42-inch video panel for the reception area, were also a component of the upgrade. The panels allow feeds from cable television, VHS/DVD video, other flood warning systems, National Weather Service data, and the Web and roof cameras — all in one place. The Web cameras make observation possible by operators from remote locations, or by staff within the District facility. Since there are no windows in the ALERT Room, the roof camera was added for storm watching. Questionable radar images and general curiosity can now be visually verified.
"The Flood Control District provides emergency managers throughout Maricopa County key data on rainfall and runoff resulting from storm events," said Tim Phillips, chief engineer and general manager of the District. "As a service to these emergency managers and other public works leadership, whether it's a municipality, county or state agency, we want to provide the best, most accurate data and information on weather and flooding conditions so appropriate decisions can be made. This upgrade of our ALERT system allows us to continue to do what we have done for those involved in flooding events more effectively and efficiently."
Currently, the District has installed and maintains 300 automatic rain gages, 150 automatic water-level gages, and 30 automatic water stations throughout Maricopa and neighboring counties.
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