PHOENIX (AZFamily) — In the Valley, when it rains, it pours, especially during the monsoon. “The ground this time of the year is like concrete; it can’t soak up any rain, so it just shoots right off and that unpredictable flooding can happen in a flash,” said Lisa Blyler, the Maricopa County Flood Control District information outreach manager.
Maricopa County tracks flooding at the county’s flood control district in south Phoenix. “It lets us know where the rain is coming, where it’s falling, and where that water is going to,” said Blyler.
The county monitors 430 rain and stream gauges across the Valley. During the summer monsoon, their command center is monitored 24/7.
“With the monsoon, it’s localized,” said Blyler. “That’s why our coverage is so important. It lets us monitor all across the county, so when we do have those localized storms, we can tell you and pinpoint where that activity is going to be.”
The county can also monitor the water level and flow of the county’s rivers, creeks and washes. They use all this information to alert cities and first responders, who then close roads or alert people in the event of flooding.
“I can’t stress this enough. Never ever cross a flooded roadway or wash. You don’t know what’s happening underneath it’s so unpredictable the water could be deeper than you think,” said Blyler.
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