City's flood monitoring system passes first test

Cape Girardeau's flood warning system worked well during its first real test two weeks ago when 4 inches of rain filled area creeks, city officials said.

"This was the first time we actually got to use the system as it is supposed to work," said Steve Cook, the city's environmental services coordinator.

The $73,230 remote monitoring system -- called Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA -- was purchased more than a year ago, but programming glitches, a lightning strike and mechanical problems prevented a full test until Dec. 14-17. That's when the city received 4 inches of rain.

Storm-water crews were called in to monitor the rain to see how accurate the system is, Cook said. He said it worked well.

"It's very accurate," Cook said. "We were aware of the different alert points and could monitor the different levels when the creeks were coming up. We were also able to see the crest and creeks recede."

More monitors will be added at other locations in the future, Cook said.

Before the system was installed, police and city officials had to station themselves at various creek points and visually monitor the creeks, Cook said. Now it can all be done indoors, which makes the planning and reaction process easier to coordinate.

The system, which was partially paid for from federal Project Impact dollars, includes a network of wireless monitors, radios and computers to gauge the water levels in Cape LaCroix Creek and Walker Branch.

The monitors look like gray boxes. They are situated at four sites along Cape LaCroix Creek and one on Walker Branch.

"Ultrasonic sensors bounce a beam down to the water and back up and records the water level," Cook said.

The signals are sent to the city's waste-water plant every four and one-half minutes, and the information by radio signal is then transmitted through telephone lines to the city's mainframe computer. From there, the levels are accessible at 14 different locations, including the police and fire departments and public works.

Police and fire officials can then warn residents that water may be getting high enough to get into their homes.

"Getting early warnings to people is the whole point," Cook said.