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http://www.floodalert.org
That's the Web address of the Rice University/Texas Medical Center Brays Bayou Flood Alert System, developed four years ago to provide several hours' warning of impending flood conditions in the Rice/Texas Medical Center area. When Tropical Storm Allison struck the Texas Medical Center on June 8 and 9, the early warning flood alert system provided important information to Texas Medical Center institutions. The several hours' notice it was designed to provide, however, was not enough to counter the amount and rapid buildup of the rainfall in the two-hour period between midnight and 2 a.m. on June 9.
Following are a few "Fast Facts" to re-aquaint you with this system:
- The early warning flood alert system was developed four years ago, when Texas Medical Center institutions, in an effort coordinated by the Texas Medical Center Corp., contributed funds to develop the system. Dr. Philip Bedient, a professor of environmental engineering at Rice University and a world-renowned flood expert, developed the flood alert system.
- Anyone with Internet access can use the system - you don't need a password to log on, you don't have to register, and there is no fee. Simply log onto http://www.floodalert.org.
- The flood alert system is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone desiring flood alert information can take the initiative to log onto the site when the weather looks threatening, and continue monitoring the site until the threat has passed.
- Texas Medical Center institutions have appointed one or more employees to monitor the Web site and warn the institution of impending floods, in accordance with that institution's severe weather plan. In most cases, the individual(s) charged with the responsibility of monitoring http://www.floodalert.org are in the Security Department, the Facilities Department, or serve as the On-Call Administrator.
- The Texas Medical Center hosts an annual Hurricane Preparedness seminar for all TMC institutions, at which time an inservice is held on how to utilize the flood alert system.
©2006 Texas Medical Center
E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/08_15_01/page_03.html
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