Can digital warning signs help stem the flood danger tide?

Can digital warning signs help stem the flood danger tide? | Insurance Business Australia

Catastrophe & Flood

Can digital warning signs help stem the flood danger tide?

It is hoped solar installations will keep motorists informed

Catastrophe & Flood

By
Roxanne Libatique

Lismore has taken another step towards extreme weather resilience by putting up digital advance warning flood signs with the help of the Australian government funding, according to the Lismore City Council.

The signs aim to improve safety for motorists during future extreme weather events. Lismore installed the signs at the following sites:

Wyrallah Road (Monaltrie Road & Skyline Road);
Boatharbour Road (Richmond Hill Road & Cameron Road); and
Nimbin Road (Bishops Creek).

The Lismore City Council will commission and test the signs over the next few weeks.

Digital advance warning flood signs

The installations have automatic electric warning signs and a separate camera – both solar powered – mounted on a high pole where the stream gauge or sensor is located.

The digital advance warning flood signs require minimal maintenance and operate with a sensor, enabling them to activate to close the road when water levels reach a specific depth over the road. Meanwhile, the cameras are activated once the creek or stream reaches a pre-determined level or the signs are activated.

Both automatic advance warning signs automatically connect to the Lismore City Council’s Disaster Dashboard and Live Traffic. Additionally, they do not require council staff to manually travel out and place “Road Closed” signs, enabling them to focus on other crucial tasks during extreme weather events, including closing flood gates, removing fallen trees, moving council assets to higher ground, and assisting the community.

In June 2023, the Lismore City Council released its disaster resilience plan to help the city better prepare for future flood events after taking a significant hit from the catastrophic flooding in February and March 2022.