USA: Texas city’s flood sensor aims to protect life and auto
By Jim McKay
McKinney, Texas, is hoping the new flood sensor being deployed, along with flashers in several key areas of the city, will put an end to the swift water rescues it’s had to undertake recently. All the while, the sensors could provide some valuable data to the North Central Texas Council of Governments as well.
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“This system is going to add a layer of warning for us, so our citizens won’t just drive up and see this barricade, they’ll see these flashing lights from a distance,” [said Karen Adkins, McKinney emergency manager].
“The sensor talks to each of the lights, reminding each one, ‘Make sure your lights are flashing,’” said Frank Gutierrez, sales manager for High Sierra Electronics, which distributes the sensors. “The same data goes back to the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ base station where it digitizes.”
The data will go into a “citizen dashboard” that residents can call up to find flooded areas. It also gives 911 call-takers a visual map of where the trouble spots are so when people call 911, as they do, the call-takers can explain exactly where flooding has occurred.
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