Albuquerque testing an arroyo warning system that tracks weather
City says right now it’s a pilot program but the goal is to save lives and property
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Albuquerque officials are testing a new alert system designed to track flooding conditions and warn homeless individuals living in arroyos about dangerous flash flooding after multiple rescue incidents.
In August, one person died and another was rescued near the arroyo system in the Four Hills area, also known as “The Box.” Albuquerque Fire Rescue said they were homeless individuals living in the arroyo.
On Tuesday, AFR responded to several reports of people in arroyos, including one person who fell in but managed to get out and a truck stuck in a dirt arroyo. All individuals were safely rescued by AFR.
Marcia Simmons, who lives near “The Box,” shared her concerns about the recurring emergencies.
“And I am terrified. I see the emergency vehicles come, and I know there’s somebody down there. And it’s happened repeatedly, and there doesn’t seem to be anything happening to stop this,” Simmons said.
The city, along with Albuquerque Fire Rescue, the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority, and the National Weather Service, has completed testing a “proof of concept system for early detection and alert during potentially dangerous situations in arroyos.”
Paula Dodge, operations director for AMAFCA, said the system is still in progress.
“Some kind of a warning system that is not operational yet, but is something that the city of Albuquerque is working on with AMAFCA to install some sensors and some alarms into the system for homeless people,” Dodge said.
While the city has not released full details, officials said they have set up an alert system at one of the arroyos to test sensors designed to warn about flash flooding.
Simmons believes the system could save lives.
“Alert system is exactly what we need, because those people don’t have any other way to get information that the flood is coming at them,” Simmons said.
