Every year, roadway flooding results in death and serious injury.
Proactive, well-placed safety countermeasures can mitigate these dangers and protect lives. There are three types of countermeasures that accomplish this: temporary traffic control devices, installed traffic control devices and high water warning systems, the latter of which I’ve placed in a category all on its own because it is uniquely proactive.
I’ve outlined each countermeasure type below, along with high water warning system configuration options, so you can make sure you understand your options and can make the best safety decisions possible for your community.
Temporary Traffic Control Devices
Traffic cones and barricades are temporary traffic control devices often used to demarcate a flooded road, preventing vehicles from moving forward without driving over them.
While they are always a handy tool for transportation professionals to have around, they require public works personnel to be aware of a flooded road, travel to it and place the cones and barricades themselves, taking precious time and exposing them to hazardous high water events.
Installed Traffic Control Devices
Because manual and automated gate systems can block or partially block flooded roadways quickly, they remain a popular installed traffic control device during high water events. Smaller gates that only partially block flooded roadways also enable first responders to get around them and reach disabled vehicles, mitigating the concern that fully blocking a road cuts off first responders from those in need.
For high-risk areas, gates can be a very worthwhile investment. However, not all roadway configurations allow for their installation.
High Water Warning Systems
A more proactive safety countermeasure is also available. Providing drivers and other road users with real-time warning of a flooded road ahead can significantly reduce the likelihood of an injury-causing or even life-ending disaster. High water warning systems make this possible.
They work by using a combination of sensors to detect rising water levels. When the water exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the system notifies road operators of the high water and activates flashing LED warning alerts, so road users know there is a flooded road ahead and can take an alternate route.
Most systems can include either a single pole that includes both sensors and warning alerts – ideal for infrequently traveled roads with low to moderate flooding problems – or multiple poles with sensors and warning alerts placed separately, which is ideal for higher risk areas.
For very large areas, some vendors like TAPCO offer systems with zones; when water is detected in a specific zone, all alerts in that zone automatically activate.
These systems can also include an automated gate system that lowers upon system activation.
Customization
Because every roadway has its own unique configuration and challenges, having a system customized to each location is key. Look for a vendor offering a high water warning system with:
- An adjustable water level threshold
- Multiple sensor technologies to match the application
- Radio communication for multi-pole systems that enables alert poles to be placed far enough ahead to allow for alternate routes
- The ability to operate in salt and fresh water
- Remote activation and monitoring available through event management software
- Camera options for remote visual confirmation of events and local conditions
- The option to integrate automated gate systems
Price
The price of a high water warning system, which usually starts at just a few thousand dollars, is most significantly influenced by how many customizable features are included. However, those features can also increase the effectiveness of the system, increasing the overall value and safety it provides long-term.
In addition, a high water warning system can pay for itself in a single day during a high water event by reducing the need for traffic control devices, law enforcement and EMS’s time and associated costs, repairs to infrastructure and more.
“We might not have any barriers in place for awhile,” said Eric Deike, Director of Public Works for Hagerstown, MD, “but drivers do get a flashing warning immediately and in real time now. We’ve done what’s reasonable to warn the public of a dangerous situation, so it helps them stay safe and reduces our liability.”
DID YOU KNOW? The majority of flash flood victims are men.
Power Options
Most high water warning systems can be operated with solar or AC power.
Solar Power
Solar-powered systems are ideal if:
- The installation location is too far from an AC power grid
- The costs of connecting to an AC power grid – trenching and metering, for example – are prohibitive
- Long-term power usage is a concern due to cost or the environment
TAPCO can design high water warning systems to fit any location’s power needs, offering solar panels with varying wattage and battery capacities, as well as self-contained, top-of-pole solar cabinet options.
AC Power
AC-powered systems are ideal if:
- The locations have lower light levels due to tree shading, heavy cloud coverage, or regional sunlight conditions
- An AC power grid is readily available
The TAPCO High Water Warning System can use 120VAC or streetlight power, enabling agencies to tap into existing infrastructure for power.
System Enhancement Options
Camera with an Illuminator
Some vendors like TAPCO offer systems with high-definition cameras that capture images and/or video of local conditions and high water warning system activations, enabling authorities to visually confirm a road has flooded and monitor the roadway. The cameras are paired with an illuminator to ensure images and video are of sufficient quality at night.
Connected Vehicle Interface
Forward-looking government agencies can add another layer of safety with a Connected Vehicle Interface, which communicates information about flooded roads ahead and other hazards via connected vehicle roadside units, delivering in-vehicle alerts to drivers of connected vehicles.
BlinkLink® Event Management Software
The TAPCO High Water Warning System can be enhanced with BlinkLink®, an easy-to-use, cloud-based software application for agencies to remotely activate, manage and monitor high water warning systems and other Intelligent Warning Systems. The software enables automated notifications to facilitate an immediate response from traffic management centers, law enforcement and EMS personnel.
Location, Location, Location
To optimize the effectiveness of a high water warning system, it’s important to consider unique topography and environmental factors.
Detection Poles
Detection poles house the sensors that detect when water exceeds a pre-determined threshold. Pole locations are customizable, depending on your needs and environment. For example, detection poles can be placed right by a roadway or in a remote area where there is water that can rise, such as a culvert, bridge or underpass near a river.
Alert Poles
Alert poles feature high water warning signs and alerts, and the quantity of these poles will vary by vendor. TAPCO’s system, for example, allows for up to 15 additional alert poles.
Pole locations are customizable as well. For example, if an intersection is prone to flooding, it is wise to place at least four alert poles in the area — one on each road ahead of the intersection. This will warn drivers of the flooded road in time to re-route.
You can also provide more advanced warning by deploying additional alert poles further away from the hazard. This prevents a high volume of vehicles from re-routing at the same time to the same place.
Preventative Maintenance
Preventative maintenance is absolutely critical for maximizing high water warning system performance, accuracy and longevity. Experts recommend conducting preventative maintenance every quarter and especially after a high water event.
Maintenance should include:
- Mechanical status testing
- Electrical status testing
- Activation / detection checks
- Cleaning / maintenance / testing of sensor(s)
- Video / communication / alerting checks, if applicable
If this preventative maintenance cannot be provided with community resources, a service agreement can help.
TAPCO offers service agreements that enable agencies to outsource preventative maintenance entirely, and the agreements even come with extended system warranties, guaranteed regulatory compliance, discounted software subscriptions and detailed records after every maintenance visit.
Proactively improving roadway safety during flooding is both possible and cost-effective with a well-placed high water warning system.
Part 1: The Real Cost of Flooded Roads and Major Risk Factors
Robert Kurka
TAPCO | Product Manager
With over a decade in business development, marketing and product management, Robert strives to improve transportation safety through innovation.
He is a pedestrian safety solutions expert who especially enjoys working with the TAPCO family to develop lifesaving products and solutions, such as the SafeWalk® Crosswalk Illuminator and the VizMark™ Pavement Marking Enhancement.