Newly installed flood gauges to be put to the test as heavy rain moves into Charlotte area

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By Gina Esposito

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Some, more than others, have seen how heavy rain can cause dangerous flooding.

“The past few times, it’s actually come inside the warehouse. Usually it gets to like, like right there,” Kashawne Rinehardt said.

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One device is installed near Little Sugar Creek off 36th Street and Cullman Avenue.

In July 2018, we watched from Chopper 9 Skyzoom as five of Rinehardt’s co-workers were rescued from flood waters. Their recycling business in north Charlotte was surrounded.

John Wendel with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Stormwater Services said over the past few months, they’ve installed 100 flood gauges in spots that are prone to flooding.

“You have the solar panels, and then you have the communication antenna,” Wendel said.

Stormwater flood monitoring system (WSOC)

Two years ago, Channel 9 reported the county would be getting the flood gauge technology, thanks to a partnership with Homeland Security. Each device has a sensor that measures the water pressure, which determines the water level.

The devices send information to the county. The next step is they connect them to the fire department and your phone. The goal is to eventually allow everyone to be able to know which roads are safe and which ones are flooded.

“It would help out a lot because I mean you can always plan ahead and find a different route for where you need to go,” Rinehardt said.

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Wendel said staff will be monitoring the devices as rain heads into the Charlotte area. He said they’re still being tested to improve accuracy and hope to bring this technology to you once the testing is complete.

“Six inches of moving water can knock a person over. A foot of moving water can move a car,” Wendel said.

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